Is Homoeopathy a Supportive Complementary Therapy for Combating Breast Cancer?

Every year, the world celebrates World Breast Cancer Research Day on August 18. Dr. Susan Love Foundation for Breast Cancer Research designated this day as the World Breast Cancer Research Day in May 2021 to raise awareness about the disease and the amount of research that has been done to understand and treat this condition that affects so many individuals worldwide.[1] Every year, the month of October is devoted largely to raising awareness of breast cancer advocacy and research, but the rest of the year needs to be dedicated to the fight against the disease. To prevent 2.5 million breast cancer deaths worldwide between 2020 and 2040, the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) aims to reduce global breast cancer mortality by 2.5% per year. The three foundations for attaining these goals are health promotion for early detection, prompt diagnosis, and thorough management of breast cancer.[3] Breast cancer is a condition in which malignant tumors are formed when aberrant breast cells grow out of control. The tumors have the potential to spread throughout the body and cause death if not treated.[3]

The most prevalent malignancy among women worldwide is breast cancer. In 2020, around 685,000 people worldwide died, and 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast cancer was the most common cancer as of the end of 2020, with 7.8 million women alive who have been diagnosed with breast cancer in the previous 5 years.[3] Globally, the incidence of breast cancer has climbed by 20% since 2008, while the overall death rate has increased by 14%.[4] Aging, obesity, drinking too much alcohol, radiation exposure history, family history of breast cancer, reproductive history (such as age at first pregnancy and age at first period), smoking, and postmenopausal hormone therapy are some factors that increase the risk of breast cancer. With the exception of their gender (female) and age (over 40 years), over half of breast cancer cases in women are caused by no known risk factors.[3]

Currently, only chemotherapy is routinely used as standard treatment in patients with breast cancer. Numerous researches shed light on the potential negative effects of chemotherapy in malignancies.[5] [6] Hence, due to prolonged side effects and expensive and different invasive procedures in modern medicine, a good number of patients are opting for homeopathy as a long-term harmless and efficient alternative treatment option. Homoeopathy is a form of complementary medicine. Due to the fact that homoeopathic treatment has proven to be safe with little to no side effects, it can be a crucial component of palliative care. This is the key factor in its global attention, and supportive care integrative oncology services can effectively incorporate it. The adverse effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, such as nausea, vomiting, exhaustion, loss of appetite, depression, radiation-induced mucositis, and skin issues, can be relieved by homoeopathic medicines.[7] According to a systemic review of 26 studies from 13 different countries, up to 64% of cancer patients (on average 31.4%) used complementary therapy at some point during their illness. In seven out of fourteen European nations where cancer patients were studied, homoeopathy was among the top five complementary therapies that were frequently used.[8]

The use of homoeopathy as a supportive therapy in the treatment of breast cancer has been demonstrated in several studies. In women undergoing unilateral complete mastectomy, a randomized controlled trial found that Arnica montana 1000 K helped lessen postoperative bleeding and seroma collection.[9] Another study demonstrated the advantages of using homoeopathy in supportive cancer therapy when combined with conventional medicine as compared with conventional medicine alone for patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer.[4] In a research involving 25 breast cancer patients who underwent radiation therapy and afterward complained of radiation-induced itching at their treatment sites, homoeopathic treatment helped 21 of the patients with symptomatic improvement.[10] Out of Eight studies included in systemic review to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of homoeopathic medicines used to prevent or treat adverse effects associated with cancer treatments. Three studies with 402 participants were tested with homoeopathic medicine for adverse effects of radiotherapy.[8] The result of a clinical trial involving 66 patients who had been operated on for breast cancer and were undergoing radiotherapy showed that homoeopathic medicine (Belladonna 7cH and X-ray 15cH) was superior to placebo in reducing the symptoms of acute radiodermatitis (such as heat of skin, swelling, pigmentation, and color of the skin).[11] In a study conducted by Pommier, homoeopathic calendula ointment was found to be effective in preventing acute dermatitis following breast cancer radiotherapy.[12] Another study conducted by Kulkarni to prevent adverse reactions of radiotherapy found homoeopathic medicines Cobaltum 30 and Causticum 30 to be beneficial in reducing symptoms.[13] All three studies show the benefits of employing homoeopathic medication to treat the side effects of therapeutic radiation. This review also revealed that calendula ointment could be used as a preventative measure for patients receiving radiotherapy for breast cancer.[8]

Homoeopathic treatment can be effective in improving the patients' physical and mental conditions and maintaining their quality of life. Now that homoeopathy is gaining popularity, it is our duty to expand awareness and publicize more evidence-based research studies of breast cancer. As a complementary medicine for treatment of breast cancer, homoeopathy needs to be promoted and its advantages and safety made known to the public.

Publication History

Article published online:
17 January 2024

• References

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