Treating pancreatic cancer successfully can be challenging, especially if the cancer is not caught until its later stages. Some herbal supplements may help alleviate symptoms or have anticancer effects, including reishi mushrooms. Although mushrooms are all natural, before using any herbs, talk with your oncologist about whether reishi are safe for you to consume during or after treatment.
About Reishi Mushrooms
Reishi mushroom, or red reishi, is an herb that is touted to have numerous health benefits. The herb contains complex carbohydrates, amino acids and proteins. The water-soluble polysaccharides in reishi mushrooms may have antitumor effects, lower blood pressure and boost the immune system. Ganoderic acids found in reishi mushrooms help alleviate allergies by inhibiting the production of histamine. It may alleviate symptoms of urinary tract infections and stop platelet aggregation, or clumping together, states Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. This herb has also been used in the treatment of anxiety, hepatitis, insomnia, asthma and bronchitis.
About Pancreatic Cancer
The National Cancer Institute estimates that in 2011, over 44,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer will be diagnosed, and over 37,000 individuals will die of the disease. Risk factors for developing cancer of the pancreas include smoking cigarettes, having diabetes or a family history of the cancer, chronic pancreatitis and being obese. While early stages of pancreatic cancer do not necessarily cause any symptoms, an individual may experience jaundice, pain in the upper stomach, nausea or vomiting and fatigue. Treatment for pancreatic cancer depends on the stage and extent of disease and can include surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy or radiation therapy.
Research Findings
A 2011 study published in the "American Journal of Chinese Medicine" concluded that studies in the laboratory and with living subjects both found reishi mushroom to have antitumor effects due to its effects on immune system cells. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center states that reishi mushrooms can help reduce nausea associated with chemotherapy and may increase the effectiveness of radiation therapy. More research is necessary, especially research on the effectiveness on pancreatic cancer specifically, to definitively recommend this herb in treating cancer.
Considerations
Before using reishi mushroom for your pancreatic cancer, talk with your doctor about all other supplements and medications you are taking, to avoid any adverse interactions. Reishi mushroom is are not a cure for cancer but may help alleviate symptoms in some patients. It is not meant to be a replacement for any treatment your doctor has prescribed. Individuals taking anticoagulants or immunosuppressants should use caution when using reishi mushroom and should ask their doctors about potential interactions.
References
- National Cancer Institute: Pancreatic Cancer Home Page
- National Cancer Institute; What You Need to Know About Pancreatic Cancer; Treatment; July 2010
- Guide to Reishi Mushrooms; What Is Reishi; 2011
- "American Journal of Chinese Medicine"; Ganoderma Lucidum Polysaccharides:Immunomodulation and Potential Anti-Tumor Activities; Z. Xu et al.; 2011
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; Reishi Mushroom; August 2011
