Evening Primrose Oil
Evening Primrose Oil I have posted this topic on behalf of new user AnnieAA
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Breast Cancer Care
On my first session of chemo, they asked if I was taking any herbal remedies. I said that I have been taking EPO for approx 4 years for relief of periods. The pharmasist suggested I stopped taking it while she checked it out. This week I had a phone message from the pharmasist which read “Evening Primrose Oil may stimulate growth of cancer cells - do not take”. I certainly wouldn’t take it again!
hi annieaa i have taken evening primrose oil for about 8 years to cope with tender breasts and have only just stopped taking it due to excessive bleeding during past surgery. it has really shocked me to read this as it was actually recommended to me in the breast clinic years ago. i definitely will not be taking mine and find it really strange to of read this now as i was only discussing starting to take it again yesterday
Me too!! I took evening primrose oil for around 10 years as I had very tender breasts at period time. It was recommended to me at the well woman clinic.
After my menopause a few years ago, I kept taking it because I understood it helped with the symptoms.
Like you, since then I have been wondering about the EPO and funnily enough mentioned this to a friend the other day.
I stopped taking it when I was diagnosed and told to stop taking unprescribed medicines prior to my operation.
I too haven’t touched it since. I had an unopened jar and gave it away to a friend. (perhaps I should tell her to throw it out!)
I’d be interested to see if others are wondering about EPO.
Take care everyone
Love Oasis
Blimey is all i can say to this post as i was perscribed EPO by the hosp because of tender breasts and a discharge pre menstural form nipple.
Now i am wondering whether it led to my BC. i have also thought of taking it for the hot flushes with the tamoxifen but i dont think i wil lbother.
i actually wonder whether all these herbal remedies and vitamin tabs make matters worse for us all.
Rx
Who do we believe? My Consultant suggested Evening Primrose Oil for menopausal symptoms too! Here is a news item from 2005 reporting Plant oil “acts like a cancer drug”. news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4395826.stm
Don’t know what we’re supposed to make of it all. x
Duh??? Thanks for that article!
It does leave one wondering, doesn’t it?
I guess we have to go by the advice of our own medical team and em… well… just keep our fingers crossed!
I don’t think I will go back to the EPO though. But that’s just my personal feeling. I think we have to go with what we feel comfortable about.
Take care all of you! Hope your recovery is continuing and you’re enjoying being out and about again.
Love Oasis xxx
EPO Goodness… I’ve been taking EPO for 6 or so months (finished treatment in Aug06). I do believe it helps slightly with the Tamoxifen side-effects, although this might entirely be down to the placebo effect! I found that BBC report before I started, and decided mostly on the evidence of that one report it could do no real harm. I’m not going to stop just yet, but will be asking my oncologist about it next month, when I see him for my 18 month check-up.
During chemo I was more careful what supplements I took and seeked additional advice from an independant consultant who had training both in mainstream and complementary medicine.