Arimidex
Good morning everyone I have been on Arimidex for a month joint pain seems to be the issue. I have read that tummeric can be helpful has anyone tried this. I brought some powder tummeric and thought ...
Forum Discussion
Hi Rowdy
This is Kathy from BCNA's Policy Team.
We would always recommend that you talk to your breast cancer specialist before starting any new complementary medicines and dietary supplements such as turmeric. Some complementary medicines interfere with breast cancer treatments and make them less effective. Vitamin C and St John's Wort, for instance. Some complementary medicines can also cause unwanted side effects.
The USA Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Centre has a fantastic website and smart phone App called About Herbs, Botanicals and other Products that has information on lots of different herbs and dietary supplements, their benefits and possible adverse effects.
It has information on turmeric which indicates that it has been found to reduce inflammation (causing joint pain) in laboratory animals, but that it is still being tested in humans. There is also a warning that turmeric can interfere with chemotherapy, so anyone still being treated with chemotherapy is advised not to take turmeric supplements. There are also other warnings, for example if you are predisposed to kidney stones or gallstones, or are taking warfarin or other blood thinners.
You might also find BCNA's booklet Hormone therapy and breast cancer helpful. It includes tips and advice to help manage joint pain caused by hormone therapies such as Arimidex. You can order a copy through our website.
All the best
Kathy