Herbal medicines and supplements for cancer patients Questions and answers Information for patients Pharmacy
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This leaflet is for all patients having treatment for cancer who are taking or thinking about taking herbal medicines or supplements. Does my doctor need to know about herbal medicines and supplements? Yes, it is very important that you tell doctors who treat you that you are taking herbal medications. Herbal medicines and supplements (vitamins, minerals and trace elements) can affect other treatments. Pharmacists can check if a herbal product or supplement will affect your treatment. Doctors and pharmacists want to help you choose the safest and most effective treatments. Are herbal medicines safe? 'Natural' or 'herbal' does not mean safe. Herbal medicines or supplements have mostly not been tested in patients receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Any tests that have been done do not give us enough proof that the herb or supplement works and is safe. Herbal medications may be harmful: Plants may be poisonous to humans. Side effects could be the same as chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Herbs and supplements can change how other medications (including chemotherapy) work. Some herbs have hormonal effects that can affect breast, ovarian, endometrial and prostate cancers. page 3 of 8
Do herbal medicines work? Herbal medicines or supplements do not treat or prevent cancer. Some herbs may relieve some of the symptoms you have, but reports of relief are from small groups of people so may not represent their effect on everyone. Avoid products that claim "this remedy will cure your cancer" or "this herbal medicine has no side effects" and remember that herbal medicines and supplements may affect your cancer treatment. What if I want to try herbal medicines or supplements; how can I minimise any risks? 1. Speak to a pharmacist at the hospital who will check the product doesn't affect any of your cancer treatments. 2. Let your doctor know you are taking the product. 3. Do not change how you take, or stop taking any medicines your doctor has given you without talking to your doctor. 4. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) sets quality standards that medicines must meet. Look for a MA (Marketing Authorisation), PL (Product Licence) or THR (Traditional Herbal Registration) number on the label. If there is no number the product has not met the safety standards and should be avoided. 5. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. 6. If a herbalist is making a mixture for you, ask for a list of the ingredients. Show the list to a pharmacist when you come into hospital and they will check if it is safe to use. page 4 of 8
Buying herbal medicines over the internet Herbal products and supplements sold over the internet are often poor quality. Products may contain harmful herbs or heavy metals that are not permitted in the UK. Herbal medicines made in other countries may not fulfil UK regulations; a registration in another country does not mean a product is safe. If you want to buy a product over the internet look for a pharmacy that is registered with the GPhC (General Pharmaceutical Council). You can check if a premises is registered on the GPhC website: www.pharmacyregulation.org/registers/pharmacy. What do I do if I have side-effects from a herbal medicine? Stop using it and tell your doctor or pharmacist. Report the reaction to the MHRA (Medicines Health Regulation Authority) Freephone 0808 100 3352 (10.00am to 2.00pm, Monday to Friday only) https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk Your doctor or pharmacist can also report the reaction for you. Reporting problems will help the MHRA give advice to other patients and healthcare professionals, and will help us make sure herbal medicines in the UK are safer. page 5 of 8
Where can I get more information? Lots of information is available about herbal medicines and their use in cancer but not all of this information is reliable. Pharmacists at the hospital can offer advice. You can ask to speak to one of them when visiting the hospital or phone the dispensary on: 0114 226 5102 Herbalists registered with the European Herbal Practitioners Association may be able to offer personalised advice for the symptoms you are experiencing. Other sources of information If you want to find out about herbal medicines, the following websites may be useful: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre www.mskcc.org/aboutherbs Macmillan www.macmillan.org.uk Patient UK - Alternative medicines www.patient.co.uk/doctor/alternative-and-holistic-medicine.htm MHRA (Medicines Health Regulation Authority) www.mhra.gov.uk European Herbal Practitioners Association www.ehpa.eu page 6 of 8
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Produced with support from Sheffield Hospitals Charity Working together we can help local patients feel even better To donate visit www.sheffieldhospitalscharity.org.uk Registered Charity No 1169762 Alternative formats can be available on request. Please email: alternativeformats@sth.nhs.uk Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 2017 Re-use of all or any part of this document is governed by copyright and the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005 SI 2005 No.1515. Information on re-use can be obtained from the Information Governance Department, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. Email infogov@sth.nhs.uk PD5467-PIL2026 v5 Issue Date: October 2017. Review Date: October 2019