breast tenderness in prostate cancer patient

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

I was wondering if i might pick your brains about the following;

I have a patient with prostate cancer who has been having regular zoladez

injections (GnRH analogue)for several years. Recently his PSA has been slowly

rising (now at 2.39 from 1.7 a year ago) so they have also put him onto

Diethylstillbestrol (oestrogen).

This has lead to very sore breasts and errect nipples that are causing him

considerable discomfort.

I have been thinking lymphatic/gentle bitters. I was wondering whether anybody

has had success in treating this in such scenario or any ideas would be most

welcome!

thanks

Best wishes

Ginny

[Guest guest]

Dear Ginny,

I have noticed this problem with a lot of my patients on androgen ablation

therapy, when of course there testosterone and DHT levels go down and

oestradiol goes up - DES of course makes things worse as it is so

oestrogenic, as you say.

I have found that supporting the liver, particularly herbs that support

phase II detoxification, helps symptoms - though takes a while to be

noticed. Pre-and pro-biotics also help reduce enteric recycling of DES

metabolites.

I often use rosemary, sarsaparilla, red clover and chaste tree for

symptomatic relief. Ginkgo is also useful, but obviously care has to be

taken as DES is always given with an anticoagulant as it increases the risk

of thromboembolisms. Depends if they use aspirin, Warfarin or clopidogrel

whether I use Gingko or not.

In the worse cases that do not respond to herbal treatment, radiotherapy to

the breast bud can eliminate symptoms, but obviously that is a last resort!

Best wishes,

Chris

From: ukherbal-list [mailto:ukherbal-list ]

On Behalf Of ginny.kemp

Sent: 22 January 2011 11:07

To: ukherbal-list

Subject: breast tenderness in prostate cancer patient

Dear all,

I was wondering if i might pick your brains about the following;

I have a patient with prostate cancer who has been having regular zoladez

injections (GnRH analogue)for several years. Recently his PSA has been

slowly rising (now at 2.39 from 1.7 a year ago) so they have also put him

onto Diethylstillbestrol (oestrogen).

This has lead to very sore breasts and errect nipples that are causing him

considerable discomfort.

I have been thinking lymphatic/gentle bitters. I was wondering whether

anybody has had success in treating this in such scenario or any ideas would

be most welcome!

thanks

Best wishes

Ginny