Hi VictorHM78 and eddiel , 

First of all, we just want to say that we are really pleased you have found support from each other at such a difficult time. It is really important to be able to talk to others who understand what you are going through but as Cancer Chat is read by many people, we just need to be clear on Cancer Research UK’s position concerning alternative/complementary therapies and also just reiterate the facts on artificial sweeteners.

As Cancer Research UK is a science organisation it is important that information posted on our website is accurate and not misleading in anyway. Our terms and conditions are also clear in that anything posted on Cancer Chat must be accurate. We have addressed the myth around artificial sweeteners in this article but we do appreciate that you might want to try anything if you think it might help treat or cure your cancer.

Only you can decide whether to use an alternative cancer therapy such as herbal medicine, but it is important for anyone reading this thread to be aware that they could harm their health if they stop their cancer treatment for an unproven treatment. What works for some people might be unsafe for someone else and so we have a legal responsibility to ensure that conversations on Cancer Chat are not seen to be encouraging or advocating anything which is unproven. There are some useful guidelines on our website for ensuring you use complementary therapies safely. Some websites might promote herbal medicine as part of treatment for cancer but no reputable scientific cancer organisations support any of these claims. 

We hope that helps and that some of the links we have shared have been useful. There is so much misinformation and contradictory information on the internet that it is important to use trusted resources such as NHS, research charities or government websites, particularly when researching your health.

Thank you for your understanding and we really do wish you both all the very best with your treatment.

Kind regards,

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

Dear Steph,

Thank you for writing again. By referring to scientific studies by Doctors and Professors of various universities, it is apparent that their published data is genuinely researched rather than being a commercial release by a drug firm.

Of course. I am not suggesting that patients should all stop their hospital treatments and start taking Rosemary, Garlic, Cranberry etc instead.

In my own case, at the suggestion of the hospital surgeon (one of a very senior Professor's team), I am under "Active Surveillance" at the moment and I am merely trying to strengthen my immunity to delay having to submit to ADT too soon by taking some 40 odd herbs recommended in scientific studies. 

The fact that established organisations do not consider herbal studies to be reliable enough to make any difference does not, I would think, automatically negate the research and I imagine that it is likely that most of these learned scientists know their subject. One powerful anti-cancer treatment originated from Yew Trees, I was told by a chemist once. If only a few of the 40 odd herbs that I take (and they are quite expensive when you have to live on your old age pension and a rent rebate from the local Council alone!) help my situation, this would be a bit of a result for the several thousands of pounds so far spent.

I don't know anything about artificial sweeteners. As I have Diabetes Type 2, I avoid sugar or sweeteners altogether.  I recall that decades ago one was banned in America.  I have read that the herb Cinnamon lowers sugar levels.

NB. A study by the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) has demonstrated that Cinnamon and its active components - cinnamaldehyde & procyanidin B2 — administered orally to rats had an inhibitory effect on early-stage prostate cancer.

Regards and thank you again, Victor 30/5/2024.

PS.  I hope that Jim who started this topic 3¼ years ago is well.