Breast cancer and medicinal mushrooms

Breast cancer is currently the most common form of malignant cancer in women in the Czech Republic.

Breast cancer and medicinal mushrooms

Breast cancer is currently the most common form of malignant cancer in women in the Czech Republic. More than 7,000 new cases are diagnosed every year in our country. Around 2,000 Czech women die of breast cancer every year and breast cancer ranks first among the causes of death in the age category of 20-54 years. Although the incidence is increasing every year, the mortality rate for this type of cancer is decreasing, and this is not only thanks to extensive education and early diagnosis of the disease, but mainly thanks to new treatment options - surgical treatment, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and the novelty of biological treatment... Breast cancer meets patients like no other cancer in their innermost being, affects their sense of self-esteem and weakens their feeling of femininity.

Cancer from the point of view of traditional Chinese medicine

Medicinal mushrooms are such small pharmaceutical factories. They present another possibility to help the body overcome this insidious disease. Usually in parallel with conventional treatment. The theory of Chinese medicine tells us that if the body is completely filled with ZHENG QI (right energy, all that is good in man), XIE QI (harmful energy) will not enter the body. We can imagine XIE QI not only as viruses, germs, moulds, but also as inadequate nutrition or (mainly in case of cancer) mental trauma. Medicinal mushrooms in general can strengthen and harmonize our ZHENG QI, and protect us from XIE QI.

Western point of view

In Western terms, medicinal mushrooms can strengthen the immune functions of the human body. This ability to strengthen immunity is mainly due to substances called polysaccharides (betaglucans). However, further substances are also involved in their ability to help fight cancer - triterpenes, lectins, enzymes, vitamins, etc. Due to the wide complex of effective substances, it is difficult for scientists to determine, even with their modern laboratory and technical equipment, by what mechanisms medicinal mushrooms are able to help our bodies fight cancer.

At the same time, scientific studies clearly demonstrate that medicinal mushrooms have a clear immunomodulatory and immunostimulatory effect. They increase and activate a large number of macrophages, T-lymphocytes or NK cells (so-called natural killer cells) in the body, which then attack the cancer cells themselves. Increased secretion of various important cytokines has also been demonstrated. In addition, a non-specific immune response, especially the complement system, is stimulated. A further way in which the effective substances of medicinal fungi can fight cancer is by cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Apoptosis is often referred to as the process of cell suicide. Specifically, it is a process in which biochemical reactions lead a cancer cell to a programmed death.

It is very important that medicinal mushrooms can be used during chemotherapy or radiotherapy (unlike other herbal preparations). As proven by research and clinical practice, mushrooms can work synergistically with chemotherapeutic drugs and strengthen our body at the same time. They also alleviate the side effects of conventional treatments, such as nausea, fatigue, hair loss, mental disharmony, etc., without drastically reducing the effects of chemotherapeutics

Most commonly used mushrooms for breast cancer

Maitake - Grifola frondosa

Maitake is probably the most important mushroom in the treatment of breast cancer. It is parasitic in nature on oak tree trunks. In Japanese it means dancing mushroom, because people danced with joy when they found this tasty and therapeutically valued mushroom. It is very difficult to find Maitake growing wild, the mushroom was very expensive, so mushroom pickers often hid their sites and this information was often passed down from generation to generation.

Currently, the efficacy and mechanisms of the effects of the substances contained in Maitake on diabetes, cancer and viral infections are being intensively studied. It can regulate the metabolic syndrome, i.e. it is often part of weight loss diets. The aromatic Maitake is also one of the most popular edible mushrooms.

A 2011 study by Portuguese scientists proved that Maitake extract, and especially what is known as D-fraction, leads to apoptosis of cancer cells in breast cancer.

This bioactive ingredient has attracted the interest of many scientists due to its immunomodulatory and anti-cancer abilities and is known for its ability to reduce cancer cell function. The study looked at D-fraction in terms of efficacy as it relates to human cell apoptosis and breast cancer. These cells were also treated with different concentrations of Maitake extract.

The results were clear: at higher doses of Maitake extract, an apoptotic effect was clearly proven. The tests proved that certain proteins, such as BAK-1, which plays a direct role in the apoptosis process, were clearly activated by the extract. In addition to this, it could be substantiated that cytochrome c, another important protein when it comes to apoptosis processes, can also be measured to an increasing extent according to dosage when cell treatment with D-fraction from Maitake is performed. This shows that D-fraction can lead to dysfunction in mitochondria in cancer cells.

Source: Soares R., Meireles M., Rocha A., Pirraco A., Obiol D., Alonso E., Joos G.,Balogh G.: Maitake (D fraction) mushroom extract induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells by BAK-1 gene activation. J Med Food. 2011 Jun; 14 (6): 563-72.

Reishi - Ganoderma lucidum

Reishi is one of the most valuable medicines in Chinese medicine. Translated it means divine mushroom of immortality". Its healing effects have been used for over se- 4,000 years. It is also mentioned in the basic work of Chinese medicine, the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon. In ancient times, people were willing to travel to very remote places to obtain this mushroom and make use of its powerful healing potential. It was sought after by emperors and praised by poets. Different types of Reishi occur in nature, of which the most therapeutically valuable is the one that is red in colour. It is very valuable. It parasitizes mainly dead branches of deciduous trees.

Thanks to its ability to regenerate the body's function and activate it, it is used by Russian astronauts as well as by Sherpas at high altitudes in the Himalayas.

Due to its high content of polysaccharides, triterpenoids and phytosterols it is used as a powerful immunostimulant. It is currently used for the prevention of cancer.

In another study in 2011, a group of scientists investigated the effect of the medicinal mushroom Reishi on cancer cells in breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a dreaded condition because it has a high mortality rate due to the attachment of the lymphatic system.

Currently, Reishi with its high content of polysaccharides, which stimulates the immune system and tripertens, which have cytotoxic effect on cancer cells, is considered the number one choice in complementary cancer treatment.

So far, only the individual components of Reishi have been studied. In the present study, it has been proven that the complete extract of this medicinal mushroom can be a very effective cancer treatment element. The natural complex of the individual ingredients has a cytotoxic effect on cancer cells. The study shows various aspects of Reishi that have an effect on cancer cell apoptosis.

The results include a clear inhibitory effect of Reishi on cancer cells, while mammary epithelial cells are not affected. In addition, Reishi prevents the growth of invasive cells and minimizes the expression of those genes that are responsible for cancer cell survival, proliferation and metastasis. As in the previously reported study, it was also possible to determine that the positive effects were greater the higher the dose of the mushroom extract used.

Source: Michelle M. Martínez-Montemayor, Raysa Rosario Acevedo, Elisa Otero-Franqui, Luis. A. Cubano, Suranganie F. Dharmawardhane: Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) inhibits cancer cell growth and expression of key molecules in inflammatory breast cancer. Nutr Cancer. 2011 Oct; 63 (7): 1085-94.

Other commonly used fungi in breast cancer include Coriolus - Coriolus versicolor. E.g. Korea supports Coriolus extract conventional treatment in 70% of patients with cancer.

However, this mushroom has been classified by European bureaucracy as a so-called novel food (the notice was prepared mainly for genetically modified foods), and cannot be sold on European territory. Despite the fact that it has been used in traditional medicine for over a thousand years, and despite the fact that it has already helped many people, despite the fact that it does not contain any potentially dangerous substances... Read more here: http://www.nedejmesicoriolus.cz.

For breast cancer we can also use further medicinal mushrooms, it always depends on the patient's overall condition and physique. Agaricus, Shiitake or Coprinus are often added to the above.

Use of medicinal mushrooms

In cancer diseases, medicinal mushrooms are used in the form of extracts. By gentle extraction, the concentration of the active substances is achieved, which is very important in this type of disease. By extraction, the chitinous barrier of the fungal cell is also removed and the digestive system is better able to absorb the active substances.

It is also important to find a reliable and proven producer, because in the pursuit of profit, some producers can do "miracles" with mushrooms (exposure, addition of cereal glucans, poor quality treatment...).

As stated above, medicinal mushrooms can also be used during chemotherapy and radiotherapy . We recommend using them for a few months after the end of conventional treatment (possibly use a mixture of Maitake with Chinese herbs). For breast cancer, a daily dose of 3g of extract per day (extract with 20% polysaccharide breakdown) is recommended. This dosage can be increased individually and preferably after consultation with a doctor or Chinese medicine practitioner (if the woman is very weak, reduce the dosage or use a combination of extract and mushroom powder).

Usually medicinal mushrooms are used in combination of two or more types. Their therapeutic effect will be enhanced.

Prevention

It is not advocated to use various dietary supplements prophylactically without the express intention of... Our body has a wonderful self-regulating ability and if we take good care of our body, it can fight many problems on its own - including cancer. Nevertheless, there are some risk factors - previous cancer in the family, a woman being under mental pressure for a long time, use of hormonal contraception, early first menstruation, age over 40, childbirth at an older age, etc. In women with these risk factors it makes sense to use medicinal mushrooms prophylactically. Most often I recommend using lower doses intermittently (5 days yes, 2 days no) in these groups, and at least 3-4 months a year. There are no negative side effects with medicinal mushrooms, so they can be used long term.

Milan Schirlo - practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine