Anna0

[Anna0]

My husband has a cancerous tumor just inside his anus. They want him to have radiation, chemo & then surgical removal of his entire lower bowels or his entire bowels.It is a stage 1-2 tumor. I would like to know if anyone else has had this diagnosis & if the radiation & chemo is necessary as they will probably remove the bowels anyway.

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  It is important to note that Essiac (and a lot of herbal medications, for that matter) is not approved by the US FDA or Canada (where Essiac originated) as a drug for treating cancer.  This is because there is not enough evidence to substantiate its claims as an anti-cancer treatment or even as an "immune system booster".

Just because herbal concoctions are perceived as "natural" and as "food supplements", does not mean they are SAFE.  Herbs contain a mixture of known and unknown substances which do have an effect on the body when taken in significant amounts.  Unlike manufactured drugs where there is control over the kind and amount of substances which go into the drug preparation, with herbs, you're not entirely sure if there are any unwanted substances in the preparation.  

If your husband is intent on taking herbal preparations, my advise is for him to take it while off chemotherapy - a week or so after the chemotherapy has been given, for example. This is to ensure that the herbs will not interact with the chemo.  But I think it would be much better if he can avoid taking any herbal concoctions during the entire period that he'll be receiving chemotherapy.

[Anna0]

I would like to try holistic treatments as well. He is already taking Essiac & as of tonite I have found alot more options. Do you feel they are as helpful as they claim to be; And can we take them along with the treatments?

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  For Stage 1-2 anal cancer, combination chemotherapy and radiotherapy WITHOUT surgery is the primary treatment of choice. Extensive surgery (abdominoperineal resection or APR) is only resorted to if the disease progresses or recurs after the chemoradiation has been given.  Alternatively, APR alone can be chosen as the initial treatment.  But this option results in greater morbidity because of the permanent colostomy.