Unregistered
12-24-2005, 01:07 PM
A seasonal story?
I attach a story from the UK press and some counter opinions.
As usual it is important to be cautious and impossible to draw conclusions without the full facts - it may not have been the mistletoe but the hormone treatment or someting else, or the mistletoe helped.
I attach some balancing abstract by way of background.
RB
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_obj...-name_page.html
24 December 2005
MY BREAST CANCER WAS CURED BY MISTLETOE
Mum's joy as Xmas plant kills tumour
By Jan Disley and Victoria Bone
JOYFUL Nicola Wicksteed celebrated a Christmas miracle yesterday - after beating breast cancer with MISTLETOE.
Three months after taking extract of the Christmas "kissing plant" combined with herbs, her 7cm-wide tumour has vanished.
She said: "I put it down to natural drugs supporting my immune system." Amazed doctors said her recovery was "remarkable". Property developer and mum Nicola, 50, learned, she had a tumour two years ago. Snubbing surgery and chemotherapy she injected herself with mistletoe, took Carctol - a remedy of eight Ayurvedic herbs - and had hormone therapy.
A month after starting the treatment, the tumour had halved. Two months later, her cells were back to normal. Nicola, of Windermere, Cumbria, said: "I discovered cancer patients in Germany have mistletoe treatment and wanted to give it a chance.
"I know chemotherapy can destroy cancer cells but it also attacks the immune system."
Nicola was helped by the Park Attwood Clinic, at Bewdley, Worcs. Dr Maurice Orange said: "Mistletoe and hormone therapy worked better than anyone hoped. The result was extraordinary.
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"There is nothing there at all now. It does not mean the cancer has completely gone, but Nicola is in full remission."
Mistletoe was first used in cancer therapy more than 80 years ago. It appears to stimulate the immune system while destroying cancer cells.
j.disley@mirror.co.uk
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mistletoe/AN01247
Mistletoe: A possible cancer treatment?
Q.
I've heard that mistletoe may help fight cancer. Is this true?
No name / No state
A.
The liquid extract from European mistletoe — which is different from American mistletoe — has long been used as an alternative cancer treatment in Europe. Proponents believe that certain substances in mistletoe may help boost the immune system and slow or stop cancer growth. However, published studies have had conflicting results.
In Europe, mistletoe extracts are prescription drugs that are given by injection. Mistletoe injections have not yet received approval in the United States. However, this may change. The National Institutes of Health is currently conducting a study to examine the safety and effectiveness of mistletoe injections, given in combination with the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine, as a cancer treatment.
It is important to note that you should never eat any part of a mistletoe plant or drink mistletoe extract because mistletoe is a poisonous plant. Ingesting mistletoe may cause vomiting, convulsions, seizures and even death. Keep mistletoe plants out of reach of children and pets.
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ARTICLE TOOLS
Print
Larger type
more information
Dec 14, 2005
© 1998-2005 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "Mayo Clinic Health Information," "Reliable information for a healthier life" and the triple-shield Mayo logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
AN01247
http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/PPI/Uncon...orIscucin. htm
ABSTRACT
Unconventional Therapies - Iscador / Mistletoe / Viscumalbum / Plenosol / Helixor / Iscucin
Print this Page | Give us your feedback: take our Print Survey
The role of your cancer health professional is to create an environment of openness and trust, and to help in making informed decisions about alternative/complementary therapies. Collaboration will improve the safe integration of all therapies during your experience with cancer. The "Summary" and "Professional Evaluation / Critique" sections of this Unconventional manual are cited directly from the medical literature, and are intended to help in the objective evaluation of alternative/complementary therapies.
Summary
"Although there is laboratory evidence of biological activity that may be beneficial to cancer patients, the evidence of clinical benefit from human studies remains weak and inconclusive. Because of the absence of serious side effects and the limited evidence that mistletoe products may offer some therapeutic advantages, further research is warranted." (Kaegi)
There have been recent studies published that show that mistletoe extracts can inhibit metastasis, reduce size, and cause necrosis of induced tumours in rodents. These studies suggest that by stimulating the cells of the immune system the mistletoe extracts have this prophylactic effect. No evidence has been published to date showing that mistletoe extracts are effective in treating cancer in humans. (Yoon) (Weber) (Zarkovic) (Antony) (Kutton)
"Because the extract has relatively weak antineoplastic activity, it may be useful as an adjuvant therapy with surgery or radiotherapy. ... Some components have shown antineoplastic activity. However, additional clinical investigation is required to assess the plant's efficacy and long-term safety profile. Because I.V. mistletoe preparations are not standardized in the United States, it is unlikely that mistletoe will be considered for use as an antineoplastic agent in the near future." (Fetrow)
I attach a story from the UK press and some counter opinions.
As usual it is important to be cautious and impossible to draw conclusions without the full facts - it may not have been the mistletoe but the hormone treatment or someting else, or the mistletoe helped.
I attach some balancing abstract by way of background.
RB
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_obj...-name_page.html
24 December 2005
MY BREAST CANCER WAS CURED BY MISTLETOE
Mum's joy as Xmas plant kills tumour
By Jan Disley and Victoria Bone
JOYFUL Nicola Wicksteed celebrated a Christmas miracle yesterday - after beating breast cancer with MISTLETOE.
Three months after taking extract of the Christmas "kissing plant" combined with herbs, her 7cm-wide tumour has vanished.
She said: "I put it down to natural drugs supporting my immune system." Amazed doctors said her recovery was "remarkable". Property developer and mum Nicola, 50, learned, she had a tumour two years ago. Snubbing surgery and chemotherapy she injected herself with mistletoe, took Carctol - a remedy of eight Ayurvedic herbs - and had hormone therapy.
A month after starting the treatment, the tumour had halved. Two months later, her cells were back to normal. Nicola, of Windermere, Cumbria, said: "I discovered cancer patients in Germany have mistletoe treatment and wanted to give it a chance.
"I know chemotherapy can destroy cancer cells but it also attacks the immune system."
Nicola was helped by the Park Attwood Clinic, at Bewdley, Worcs. Dr Maurice Orange said: "Mistletoe and hormone therapy worked better than anyone hoped. The result was extraordinary.
Advertisement
Falk AdSolution
"There is nothing there at all now. It does not mean the cancer has completely gone, but Nicola is in full remission."
Mistletoe was first used in cancer therapy more than 80 years ago. It appears to stimulate the immune system while destroying cancer cells.
j.disley@mirror.co.uk
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mistletoe/AN01247
Mistletoe: A possible cancer treatment?
Q.
I've heard that mistletoe may help fight cancer. Is this true?
No name / No state
A.
The liquid extract from European mistletoe — which is different from American mistletoe — has long been used as an alternative cancer treatment in Europe. Proponents believe that certain substances in mistletoe may help boost the immune system and slow or stop cancer growth. However, published studies have had conflicting results.
In Europe, mistletoe extracts are prescription drugs that are given by injection. Mistletoe injections have not yet received approval in the United States. However, this may change. The National Institutes of Health is currently conducting a study to examine the safety and effectiveness of mistletoe injections, given in combination with the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine, as a cancer treatment.
It is important to note that you should never eat any part of a mistletoe plant or drink mistletoe extract because mistletoe is a poisonous plant. Ingesting mistletoe may cause vomiting, convulsions, seizures and even death. Keep mistletoe plants out of reach of children and pets.
* Complementary and alternative cancer treatment: Get the facts
RELATED
Articles
* Complementary and alternative cancer treatment: Get the facts
* Mastectomy: Surgery to treat or prevent breast cancer
* Lung cancer
Ask a Specialist
* Insulin potentiation therapy: A dangerous alternative cancer treatment
* Chemotherapy side effects: Coping with taste changes
* Chemotherapy: Can it cause diabetes?
Centers
* Breast Cancer Center
* Prostate Cancer Center
* Cancer Center
MayoClinic.com Bookstore
* 'Mayo Clinic Guide to Women's Cancers' (Hardcover)
ARTICLE TOOLS
Larger type
more information
Dec 14, 2005
© 1998-2005 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "Mayo Clinic Health Information," "Reliable information for a healthier life" and the triple-shield Mayo logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
AN01247
http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/PPI/Uncon...orIscucin. htm
ABSTRACT
Unconventional Therapies - Iscador / Mistletoe / Viscumalbum / Plenosol / Helixor / Iscucin
Print this Page | Give us your feedback: take our Print Survey
The role of your cancer health professional is to create an environment of openness and trust, and to help in making informed decisions about alternative/complementary therapies. Collaboration will improve the safe integration of all therapies during your experience with cancer. The "Summary" and "Professional Evaluation / Critique" sections of this Unconventional manual are cited directly from the medical literature, and are intended to help in the objective evaluation of alternative/complementary therapies.
Summary
"Although there is laboratory evidence of biological activity that may be beneficial to cancer patients, the evidence of clinical benefit from human studies remains weak and inconclusive. Because of the absence of serious side effects and the limited evidence that mistletoe products may offer some therapeutic advantages, further research is warranted." (Kaegi)
There have been recent studies published that show that mistletoe extracts can inhibit metastasis, reduce size, and cause necrosis of induced tumours in rodents. These studies suggest that by stimulating the cells of the immune system the mistletoe extracts have this prophylactic effect. No evidence has been published to date showing that mistletoe extracts are effective in treating cancer in humans. (Yoon) (Weber) (Zarkovic) (Antony) (Kutton)
"Because the extract has relatively weak antineoplastic activity, it may be useful as an adjuvant therapy with surgery or radiotherapy. ... Some components have shown antineoplastic activity. However, additional clinical investigation is required to assess the plant's efficacy and long-term safety profile. Because I.V. mistletoe preparations are not standardized in the United States, it is unlikely that mistletoe will be considered for use as an antineoplastic agent in the near future." (Fetrow)