Breast cancer is common in women, characterized by the presence of a lump or thickening of the breast tissue. The U.K. National Health Service's website, NHS Choices, notes that one in nine women is affected by breast cancer during her lifetime but adds that there is a good chance of recovery if it is detected early enough. Treatment usually involves surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy; biological therapy or hormone therapy may also be used. Vitamin B-17 has been used as a cancer treatment, although evidence to prove it is effective is lacking. Don't use it without consulting a doctor.
Properties and Uses
Also known as amygdalin or laetrile, vitamin B-17 has been used to prevent or treat cancer since 1845. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, it was first used as a cancer treatment in the 1920s and gained popularity in the 1970s. U.K. cancer charity Cancer Help UK notes that some cancer patients take vitamin B-17 to help boost energy levels and to prolong life, but adds that there is little evidence to suggest it can treat cancer or any other illness.
Effectiveness
Cancer UK states that scientific evidence to support the use of vitamin B-17 as a cancer treatment is lacking. Furthermore, vitamin B-17 has not been evaluated as a breast cancer treatment so it is difficult to say whether it might be effective for this particular form of cancer. A review of clinical research data published in the June 2007 issue of "Support Cancer Care" concludes that the purported benefits of vitamin B-17 for cancer patients are not supported by sound clinical data.
Sources and Administration
Vitamin B-17 is derived from the pips of a number of fruits, especially apricot kernels. It is available in tablets and can also be administered intravenously by a doctor, daily for two to three weeks. However, since vitamin B-17 is not a proven cancer treatment and might be harmful, it is not available in many parts of the world, including Europe and the United States. Some hospitals and clinics in Mexico offer vitamin B-17 treatment, but it may be expensive and ineffective. Get medical advice before undergoing treatment.
Safety Concerns
Vitamin B-17 contains cyanide and may cause severe side effects including sickness, liver damage, nerve damage, fever and even death. A case study published in the October 2005 issue of the "European Journal of Emergency Medicine" reports of a breast cancer patient who had taken vitamin B-17 and suffered breathing problems, hypothermia, an increased heart rate and diabetes insipidus, and required emergency treatment as a result. Don't use vitamin B-17 unless your doctor advises.
References
- NHS Choices: Breast Cancer (Female); August 2010
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Amygdalin; October 2010
- Cancer Help UK: Laetrile (Amygdalin, Vitamin B17)
- "Support Cancer Care"; Laetrile for Cancer: A Systematic Review of the Clinical Evidence; S. Milazzo, et al.; June 2007
- "European Journal of Emergency Medicine"; Severe Cyanide Toxicity from Vitamin Supplements; B. O'Brien, et al.; October 2005
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