Chemotherapy Archives - Geneology International

Tag: Chemotherapy

The effect of prophylactic chemotherapy on treatment outcome of postmolar gestational trophoblastic neoplasia | BMC Women’s Health
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How true is the recurring claim that lemon peels cure cancer better than chemotherapy?

A recurring social media post on alternative medicine has claimed that lemon peels can eradicate toxic elements and miraculously kill cancer cells.

“Read about the lemon peel & it pains me to hear about these facts & proves that the drug companies would rather profit on our pains & suffering than educate us on alternative medicines & natural remedies,” reads the beginning of the long post which claims lemon peels are 10,000 times stronger than chemotherapy when treating cancer cells.

In an emotion-ridden attempt to prove the authenticity of the claim, some part of the opening text in the post says, “feel sorry for those dead & gone that couldn’t afford or get hold of the chemo or whatever medicines they prescribe, and didn’t know about these facts, thank goodness for social media”.

Claims on Facebook that lemon peels are a better cure for cancer than chemotherapy (Left, centre, right) (Source: Facebook)

Facebook claim has been existing far back as 2012

TheCable used CrowdTangle, an open-source investigation tool from Meta, and determined that the post has been on Facebook since December 2012. It was posted by a group named, Indians in Leicester with 1,000 followers and 996 likes. The page was created in July 2010.

Search results of Facebook posts with similar claims (Source: CrowdTangle)

Checks by TheCable revealed that since 2012, the long post had been reposted frequently on several online platforms for about a decade.

Search results of Facebook posts show the claim has been shared far back as 2010 (source: CrowdTangle)

A copy of the post by annabarnes69, a biology graduate who introduced the post with the caption “cancer killer”, appeared on Instagram on July 12, 2022. It only received 16 likes.

Same claims about lemon peels, shared by annabarnes69 on Instagram (source: Instagram)

An extensive keyword tweet search revealed that the post was also shared on Twitter as far back as January 2018, by a user named Kwanele Asante, with the username @breastlessAfrik. According to the account bio, the user is a breast cancer survivor who has been declared NED – no evidence of disease, by her medical doctor.

The most recent appearance of the post on Twitter was published in March 2021.

Post sharing lemon peel as alternative medicine on Twitter (source: Twitter)

Further online investigations led to a publication published in 2013 by Hope4Cancer, a non-governmental organization offering alternative therapy to strengthen and heal cancer patients. The report by Subrata Chakravarty, PhD, was titled “Lemons and Cancer: Is Lemon a Cancer Cure?”

Excerpts from an article by Chakravarty on the benefits of lemons in curing cancer (source: hope4cancer.com)

Are lemons 10,000 times more effective than chemotherapy in cancer treatment?

Chakravarty is a researcher with dozens of peer-reviewed papers. He earned his M.S./PhD degrees from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute and completed a second PhD in medicinal chemistry from Stony Brook University in the United States.

Chakravarty’s twenty-plus years of research involve the medicinal and computational design of potential drug candidates, including taxane chemotherapeutics and antiviral and also antithrombotic agents.

His report highlights conflicting reports purporting that lemons can treat cancer. However, their effectiveness is questionable.

The report admits that lemons and other citrus fruits contain cancer-fighting properties, but it is yet to be accurately determined how effective they are against specific types of cancer.

Aside from making a case for lemon extract and its capability to destroy some malignant cells, the alternative medicine platform points to some studies claiming that lemons can destroy cancer much more effectively than chemotherapy and more safely and healthily.

However, Hope4Cancer disagrees that lemons are 10,000 times better than chemotherapy. The author could not find any authoritative scientific work that established that as a fact, adding that the statement is unscientific and unfounded.

In 2015, the website added an editor’s note after being inundated with questions from readers asking if lemons can treat cancer. The footnote says the article only describes the health benefits of lemons and the fact that they could be an excellent addition to an anti-cancer diet.

It further adds a disclaimer, discouraging cancer patients from using nutritional measures as the only tool against the disease. It distances itself from the frozen lemon treatment, adding that there is no such thing.

False claim makes it to India

In India, the social media post was widely circulated on WhatsApp, the popular instant messaging app.

In 2022, at least two fact-checking platforms in India – Boomlive and Thehindu debunked the claim, tagging it false. Also, Vishvasnews, an Indian publication, ran the fact-check in 2019 and concluded that the claim was false.

What do experts have to say?

The National Academies, a non-profit institution that provides scientific advice on pressing world challenges, debunked the central claim in the circulating post in a report published in February 2019.

According to the report, the idea that lemons could treat cancer is mainly based on a molecule called limonene, usually found in the oil in lemon peels and other citrus fruits. It also mentioned that studies are ongoing to test the potency of limonene when treating cancer patients. However, the report says there is no consistent evidence that people with cancer who consume limonene either in supplement form or by eating citrus fruits get better or are more likely to be cured.

TheCable spoke with Dapo Agunbiade, a medical doctor, to confirm if there is any recent research to reinforce the effect of lemon peel on cancer treatment.

In his response, Agunbiade said, “in medicine, the dosage is everything”, adding that the dose-effect relationship of modified flavonoids in citrus peel is still under investigation.

“There’s a difference between the effect of a citrus-peel extract on a tumour inside a petri-dish and the effect of that extract when introduced into a living human system,” he said.

Osunsanya Olajumoke, a nutritionist and founder of Khairo Diet Clinic, told TheCable that many would have been cured of the disease if the claim that lemons cure cancer were true.

The dietician also mentioned that a laboratory review and animal studies showed that D-limonene and a few other compounds found in lemon and other citrus peels kill mutated cells and prevent the growth of tumours.

She added that the antioxidants in lemon had been shown to boost immune cells, reduce the risk of cancer and enhance the body’s ability to fight off cancer.

However, no clinical trial shows the effectiveness in humans or that these compounds are 10,000 stronger than chemotherapy.

Investigations reveal that the misleading claim must have emerged, and is being strengthened by some ongoing studies suggesting that limonene can kill mutated cells and prevent the growth of tumours in laboratory dishes.

This article was produced with mentorship from the African Academy for Open Source Investigations (AAOSI), to tackle disinformation that undermines our democracies, as part of an initiative by the International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ) and Code for Africa (CfA). Visit https://disinfo.africa/ for more information.

Turning Point Therapeutics Granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Repotrectinib Treatment in Patients With One Prior ROS1 Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor and no Prior Chemotherapy

Turning Point Therapeutics, Inc. — Turning Level Therapeutics, Inc.

SAN DIEGO, May 10, 2022 (Globe NEWSWIRE) — Turning Stage Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: TPTX), a scientific-phase precision oncology business developing and developing novel focused therapies for most cancers treatment method, these days introduced the U.S. Foodstuff and Drug Administration (Food and drug administration) granted an eighth regulatory designation, and third Breakthrough Treatment designation, to lead drug applicant repotrectinib.

Breakthrough Remedy designation (BTD) was granted for the cure of sufferers with ROS1-optimistic metastatic non-tiny cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have been previously handled with 1 ROS1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor and who have not acquired prior platinum-centered chemotherapy. The efficacy analyses supporting the BTD application involved somewhere around 50 patients pooled from the Stage 1 and Period 2 portions of the TRIDENT-1 review. Efficacy evaluations in Phase 2 sufferers were by medical doctor evaluation.

“We are enthusiastic to acquire our 3rd BTD and eighth over-all Food and drug administration regulatory designation for repotrectinib in an sign wherever there are no approved qualified therapies,” mentioned Mohammad Hirmand, M.D., Chief Professional medical Officer. “We are encouraged by the continued momentum in TRIDENT-1 with enrollment targets obtained in cohorts EXP-1, EXP-4 and EXP-6. We seem ahead to continuing to development repotrectinib towards registration with our to start with pre-NDA meeting with the Food and drug administration to discuss the topline info by blinded impartial central overview from the ROS1-positive sophisticated NSCLC cohorts of the TRIDENT-1 study anticipated later this quarter.”

BTD is granted by the Food and drug administration to expedite the enhancement and regulatory review of an investigational drugs that is supposed to handle a major or lifetime-threatening condition. The criteria for BTD need preliminary scientific evidence that demonstrates the drug may have sizeable improvement on at minimum a single clinically significant endpoint above out there therapy.

Repotrectinib was earlier granted two BTDs in: ROS1-positive metastatic NSCLC clients who have not been treated with a ROS1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and clients with innovative strong tumors that have an NTRK gene fusion who have progressed subsequent remedy with one or two prior TRK tyrosine kinase inhibitors, with or without the need of prior chemotherapy, and have no satisfactory choice remedies. Repotrectinib was also previously granted 4 Fast-Monitor designations in: ROS1-favourable state-of-the-art NSCLC sufferers who are ROS1 TKI naïve ROS1-constructive highly developed NSCLC clients who have been formerly taken care of with one particular prior line of platinum-based chemotherapy and a single prior ROS1 TKI ROS1-positive state-of-the-art NSCLC clients pretreated with a person prior ROS1 TKI devoid of prior platinum-centered chemotherapy and NTRK-good patients with state-of-the-art solid tumors who have progressed adhering to therapy with at minimum a single prior line of chemotherapy and one particular or two prior TRK TKIs and have no satisfactory substitute solutions. Repotrectinib was also granted an Orphan Drug designation in 2017.

Enrollment throughout all six cohorts of the analyze remains open and proceeds to progress steadily.

About Turning Point Therapeutics Inc.
Turning Position Therapeutics is a clinical-phase precision oncology corporation with a pipeline of investigational prescription drugs designed to deal with crucial restrictions of existing most cancers therapies. The company’s lead drug prospect, repotrectinib, is a next-generation kinase inhibitor focusing on the ROS1 and TRK oncogenic motorists of non-tiny cell lung cancer and advanced strong tumors. Repotrectinib, which is being analyzed in a registrational Period 2 analyze in grown ups and a Phase 1/2 analyze in pediatric patients, has proven antitumor activity and tough responses between kinase inhibitor cure-naïve and pre-treated patients. The company’s pipeline of drug candidates also incorporates elzovantinib, focusing on Fulfilled, CSF1R and SRC, which is currently being examined in a Phase 1 demo of people with sophisticated or metastatic strong tumors harboring genetic alterations in Fulfilled TPX-0046, targeting RET, which is becoming examined in a Section 1/2 demo of patients with advanced or metastatic reliable tumors harboring genetic alterations in RET TPX-0131, a following-generation ALK inhibitor, which is remaining examined in a Section 1/2 demo of previously treated clients with ALK-constructive innovative or metastatic non-tiny cell lung most cancers and TPX-4589 (LM-302), a novel ADC concentrating on Claudin18.2 staying researched in a Period 1 analyze in gastrointestinal cancers. The company is pushed to develop therapies that mark a turning level for clients in their most cancers procedure. For far more data, check out www.tptherapeutics.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press launch about matters that are not historical info are “forward-seeking statements” inside of the indicating of the Non-public Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These types of ahead-wanting statements include things like statements regarding, among other points, the momentum in TRIDENT-1 analyze, the potential to continue on to progress repotrectinib toward registration, timing of Turning Issue Therapeutics’ to start with pre-NDA assembly with the Fda to discuss the topline knowledge by blinded impartial central evaluate from the ROS1-optimistic state-of-the-art NSCLC cohorts of the TRIDENT-1 examine, the possible positive aspects of BTD, development of enrollment, and the efficacy and therapeutic opportunity of repotrectinib. For the reason that such statements are subject to pitfalls and uncertainties, real success may well differ materially from those people expressed or implied by this sort of forward-wanting statements. Words such as “plans”, “will”, “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “goal,” “potential” and identical expressions are intended to determine forward-wanting statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Turning Position Therapeutics’ existing anticipations and contain assumptions that may possibly by no means materialize or may possibly prove to be incorrect. True final results could vary materially from all those expected in these forward-on the lookout statements as a end result of various dangers and uncertainties, which consist of, with out limitation, risks and uncertainties related with Turning Point Therapeutics’ business in standard, hazards and uncertainties related to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic to Turning Point’s business enterprise and the other pitfalls explained in Turning Stage Therapeutics’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Fee (SEC), such as its yearly report on Type 10-K filed with the SEC on February 28, 2022. All ahead-searching statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Turning Level Therapeutics undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect situations that take place or circumstances that exist immediately after the day on which they ended up built.

Get in touch with:
Adam D. Levy, PhD, MBA
[email protected]
858-867-6366

Alternatives to Chemotherapy: Holistic Options and Research

When you are diagnosed with cancer, you may be looking to take control of the situation by researching all the treatment options available. You may begin to look into alternatives to conventional treatments like chemotherapy.

In some cases, complementary therapy can help ease symptoms caused by the cancer or side effects caused by cancer treatment. But little is known about the effectiveness of using alternative treatments as the sole treatment for cancer.

Before you decide on a treatment plan, you should speak to your cancer team about the options you have available.

This article explores alternatives to chemotherapy.

Morsa Images / Getty Images

The Problem With Chemotherapy

The number of patients who make the decision not to use chemotherapy as a cancer treatment is not well known. Studies have reported rates of less than 1{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} for patients who refused all conventional treatment and 3{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} to 19{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} for patients who refused chemotherapy partially or completely.

But why would anyone choose to not go ahead with chemotherapy if it was recommended by their oncologist? The side effects can be numerous and include:

Fatigue
Hair loss
Easy bruising and bleeding
Infection
Anemia (low red blood cell counts)
Nausea and vomiting
Appetite changes
Mouth, tongue, and throat problems such as sores and pain with swallowing
Skin and nail changes such as dry skin and color change
Urine and bladder changes, and kidney problems
Weight changes

The side effects and degree to which they’re experienced vary largely from person to person and are dependent on the type of chemotherapy drugs received.

Chemotherapy vs. Radiation

The major difference between chemotherapy and radiation is the way the treatments are delivered. Chemotherapy is delivered through an infusion into a vein or medication port, or it can be taken orally. With radiation therapy, beams of radiation are focused on a specific area in your body.

Radiation therapy is a treatment that uses high-energy X-rays (or proton beams) to destroy cancer cells. Short-term side effects of radiation therapy often include redness (like a sunburn), inflammation of the area which receives radiation, and fatigue.

Potential Benefits of Alternative Medicine

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is the term for medical products and practices that are not part of standard medical care. People with cancer may use CAM to:

Help cope with the side effects of cancer treatments, such as nausea, pain, and fatigue
Comfort themselves and ease the worries of cancer treatment and related stress
Feel that they are doing something to help with their own care
Try to treat or cure their cancer

You may hear the term “holistic medicine” referred to in cancer treatment. Holistic care treats the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. That typically means a combination of conventional and complementary medicine.

What Is CAM for Cancer?

The prevalence of CAM use among cancer patients has been rising over the last few decades. The terms “alternative” and “complementary” are used to describe many kinds of products, practices, and treatments.

Alternative therapy refers to non-standard treatment used in place of standard treatment, while complementary therapy usually means methods used along with standard treatment.

Alternative and complementary therapies are often appealing because they use your own body, your own mind, or things that may be found in nature. But sometimes these methods wrongly claim to prevent, diagnose, or treat cancer even when they have not been proven to work through scientific testing.

Some complementary methods have been studied and shown to help people feel better under a doctor’s care. Examples might include meditation to reduce stress, or acupuncture to reduce pain and nausea.

Alternatives to Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is not the only way to treat cancer. A variety of different treatment options are available, some that may be used alone or in combination with other treatments.

Medical

Surgery: With a few exceptions (such as blood-related cancers like leukemia), when surgery is an option, it offers the best chance to cure a cancer or at least significantly reduce the chance that it could recur.
Targeted therapies: These are medications designed to target cancer cells specifically. As such, they are often less harmful to normal cells. Many of the more recently approved drugs for cancer are targeted therapies, and more are being evaluated in clinical trials.
Immunotherapy: This is an exciting new approach to treating cancer. There are many different types of immunotherapy, but the commonality is that these drugs work by either altering the body’s immune system or by using products of the immune system to fight cancer.
Active surveillance: Also called watchful waiting, this may be all that’s needed for certain types of cancers. Your doctor may recommend this approach if the cancer is at an early stage and is growing slowly or not at all.

Holistic

Complementary and alternative therapy may include a wide range of treatments, including:

Herbal and dietary supplements and vitamins: One large study found the CAM most commonly reported was vitamin use, with 66{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of patients reporting use of at least one vitamin. Other herbal preparations included green tea, ginger, chaga mushroom, curcumin (turmeric), flaxseed oil, and probiotics. Some herbal medicines may be safe, but others can have severe and dangerous side effects or might interact with other cancer treatments you are taking.
Spirituality: Many patients with cancer rely on spiritual or religious beliefs and practices to help them cope with their disease. This is called spiritual coping.
Diet: There’s no diet that can cure cancer. There’s also no good research that shows that any eating plan, like a vegan diet, for example, can lower the chance of cancer coming back.
Acupuncture: Some studies suggest acupuncture may help with mild pain and some types of nausea.
Art therapy: This is a type of mental health care which, according to the American Art Therapy Association, seeks to improve or restore a patient’s functioning and sense of well-being, and may enhance their quality of life.

Biofeedback: This uses monitoring devices to help people gain conscious control over physical processes that are usually controlled automatically, such as heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, sweating, and muscle tension.
Massage therapy: This can increase alertness and decrease stress, anxiety, depression, and pain, according to some studies.
Meditation: This may have several benefits for people living with cancer, including reduced anxiety and depression, reduced stress, greater energy, and a decrease in chronic pain among other symptoms.

Some CAM therapies have undergone careful evaluation and have been found to be generally safe and effective. However, others do not work, may be harmful, or could interact negatively with your medicines.

It is important to talk to your doctors before trying any CAM therapy.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Some CAM therapies are proven to help with the side effects of cancer and its treatment.
Some may help manage the emotional side effects of living with cancer.
Lifestyle changes such as healthy diet and exercise may be beneficial for body and mind.

Cons

Some CAM therapies do not work, may be harmful, or interact negatively with other medication.
CAM has not been scientifically proven to “cure” or “beat” cancer.
Refusing conventional medicine may shorten life expectancy.

Many people with cancer are afraid to discuss CAM with their doctor. It’s true that many doctors may not know about the uses, risks, and potential benefits of unconventional treatments. But this doesn’t have to stop you from discussing these with your doctor.

You can approach the topic in a number of ways:

If you’re thinking of alternative treatment, let your doctor know what you’re considering. Ask them about any studies on this method and what options you might still have if the alternative treatment doesn’t work.
Look for information from respected sources that you can trust regarding the potential benefits and risks of the treatment you are thinking about.
Make a list of questions, and bring it along to your appointments with any other information you want to talk about.
Listen to what your doctor has to say, and try to understand their point of view.

Once you have all the information, you can make a truly informed decision.

Cancer “Cure” Myths

Cancer is not a single disease, but an umbrella term for more than 200 distinct diseases, all with their own mutations and treatment needs. If a product or therapy is claiming to cure cancer, these claims need to be considered carefully.

Thousands of websites offer alternative therapies for cancer. The Federal Trade Commission has developed a list of claims that should make you suspicious of a website:

Claims of a “scientific breakthrough,” “miraculous cure,” “secret ingredient,” or “ancient remedy”
Claims that a product can cure a wide range of illnesses
Stories of people who’ve had amazing results, but no clear scientific data
Claims that a product is available only from one source, especially if you must pay in advance
Websites that don’t list the company’s name, street address, phone number, and other contact information (It may exist only offshore, away from U.S. laws and regulators.)

Cancer is frightening, but accurate information is important—and organizations like the American Cancer Society have research-backed information available about treatments.

A Word From Verywell

If you have cancer and are interested in herbs, acupuncture, or other alternative treatments, talk to your doctor.

There are many complementary methods you can safely use along with standard treatment to help relieve symptoms or side effects, ease pain, and improve your quality of life. Speak to your doctor so you can choose methods that don’t cause harm and won’t interfere with your cancer treatment.

If you are looking to decline all conventional cancer treatments, you need to be aware of the pros and cons of doing so.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is chemotherapy the only cancer treatment option?

Chemotherapy is only one of many treatment options for cancer. Your treatment will depend on the type of cancer you have, the stage of the cancer (how far it has spread), and your overall health. Other treatment options include surgery, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and complementary medicine.

What is the survival rate of fighting cancer without chemotherapy?

Survival rates are based on statistics that researchers have collected over many years about people with the same type of cancer. But each cancer and each patient is different, and chemotherapy is only one type of treatment, so this is difficult to predict.

How effective is holistic cancer treatment?

Holistic care treats the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. That typically means a combination of traditional and complementary medicine. For instance, a holistic way to treat cancer could include chemotherapy and acupuncture.

Complementary therapy has been found to be effective when used in combination with traditional therapy.