ReviewRole of natural products in breast cancer related symptomology: Targeting chronic inflammation
Section snippets
Prevalence of psychological-stress related symptoms
Breast cancer (BC) is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in the United States and a prime reason for death in women globally [1]. Due to advances in medical treatment, breast cancer mortality rates have decreased in recent years, leading to more individuals living with cancer. At present, there are 3.1 million women in the US with a history of breast cancer including women currently being treated and women who have finished their treatment [2]. This suggests that there is a huge
Links of PTSD-like symptoms in BC to chronic inflammation
Physiological and behavioral changes in the body are being coordinated by several systems including the immune, the endocrine, and the central and peripheral systems that constantly communicate with each other [24]. Given PTSD is a disorder of the stress response, it results in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) reactivity, activation of the immune system, and the release of the stress hormones and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and other neurotoxins. With continuous
Natural products as interventions to alleviate PTSD-like symptoms
Given the evidence that a pro-inflammatory state could dictate the length and severity of post-cancer symptoms, consumption of anti-inflammatory (AI) foods benefit BC patients and survivors in several ways. Findings from the Women's Health Initiative suggested that the adoption of AI foods in the post-cancer diagnosis diet benefitted women by reducing the risk for future cardiovascular disease [85]. In the same cohort, the consumption of AI food and supplements resulted in improved survival for
Conclusions and future directions of natural products in breast cancer related symptomology
Based on the findings derived from different studies, our review demonstrates a strong link between PTSD-like symptoms and chronic inflammation in breast cancer patients. Due to severe side effects and multidrug resistance, BC treatment approaches becoming not that effective. Natural products and dietary compounds are reported to have multiple anti-cancer properties and are often considered as attractive novel treatment strategies for targeting chronic inflammation.
Many of the PTSD-like
Funding
UT Health San Antonio Mays Cancer Center.
Declaration of Competing Interest
The authors report no declarations of interest.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Dr. Jay Morris for his insights and suggestions.
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