I am taking herceptin and tamoxifin can I take Evening Primrose as well?
…JEN…
Hi Jen
We would always recommend that you consult your medical team before taking any vitamins or complementary therapies.
Best wishes
Katie
The journalists made it seem a while back like scientists had found that evening primrose oil helped herceptin work, but the scientist who did the work, Dr Menendes, had never said this and his work found only that one component of evening primrose oil might be helpful. Journalists are always looking for an angle and unfortunately tend to twist stories as a result. Dr Menendes has said that his work indicates that it might be advisable for women with her2 positive breast cancer to use olive oil instead of other oils, but does not seem to have run any trials on this.
Am a journalist with cancer so find your comments a tad unhelpful - especially as it was a media campaign that persuaded the government to put herceptin on general use before the usual trial period. Most of the national medical correspondents are very well informed. My oncologist at the royal marsden has recommended evening primrose oil to help combat the hot flushes from tamoxifen. Can’t help you with its effect if any re herceptin. Ask your consultant.
vikki