Hi,
I have just finished chemotherapy/radiotherapy and i'm very interested in learning how to boost my immune system(and health in general) and using herbs to help with the treatment of Tamoxifen which i will have to take for 5yrs so anything i learn will not have to clash with what i'm currently taking.
Can anyone advise me on where to start?

Hi Denise,
It is good to hear that you have dealt well with the chemo and are now able to look forward in a positive way to give your body a boost.
Whilst there are a number of herbs that can be quite safely used, there also some that shouldn't. I would therefore suggest that it would be much better to consult with a qualified medical herbalist who would also be able to give dietary advice,which is just as relevent as herbal medicines.

I'm sorry if I am not being as helpful as you had wished. The art of herbal prescribing is knowing when it is safe to self prescribe and when expert help is needed.
If you do consult a medical herbalist, please make sure they are properly qualified, belong to a recognised organisation and have insurance .

Best wishes for the future. It would be good to hear how you get on,so please do post again and let us know how you are.

Regards
Linda

Hi Linda,
Thank you for the reply and this is exactly what i needed some good advice, As i'm new to all this i want to get it right, i will of course seek out a qualifed medical herbalist and mention what i'm interested in to my oncolagist on my next visit.
Thanks.
Denise.

Hi Denise

Good luck with your journey. I would suggest you find and consult a medical herbalist before you talk to your oncologist. Some oncologists are reasonably knowledgeable in herbal medicine, some are liable to give out potentially dangerous advice and some will be downright hostile. Many are totally ignorant and not interested. Hopefully yours will be sufficiently interested to enter into a reasonable dialogue with your herbalist so both can benefit from the communication.

When I am putting together support information for people with cancer, I normally include a list of books which people on Henriette's herblist have indicated are useful. They are:-

Beating Cancer With Nutrition by Patrick Quillin. Nutrition Times Press, Inc 2001 ISBN: 0963837281

"Herbal Medicine, Healing, and Cancer" by Donald R. Yance, Jr. C.N. M.H., A.H.G. with Arlene Valentine McGraw-Hill Education Europe 1999 ISBN: 0879839686

"How to Prevent and Treat Cancer With Natural Medicine" by Dr. Michael Murray, N.D. with Dr. Tim Birdsall, Dr. Joseph Pizzorno, and Dr. Paul Reilly Publisher Jeremy P Tarcher 2002 ISBN: 1573222224

"Treating Cancer with Herbs" by Dr.Michael Tierra Lotus Press 2003 ISBN: 0914955934 £24 (difficult to find)

"Cancer Diagnosis, What To Do Next" by John Diamond, M.D. and W. Lee Cowden, M.D., with Burton Goldberg. Publisher Celestial Arts 2000 ISBN: 1887299408

"Wellness Against All Odds", by Sherry Rogers, M.D.Publisher Prestige Pubs 1994 ISBN: 0961882158 (Only available used from US )

Donald Yance and Michael Tierra are both very well respected herbalists and the Sherry Rogers book comes highly recommended.

I apologise that all the books are by US authors, but I am not aware of good UK Herbal books for cancer support. Maybe someone else can enlighten us.

Another great resource, if you have not already contacted them is the Penny Brohn Centre in Bristol. I have come across many people and their families who have been there or contacted them for information and support and have heard nothing but good things from them. Their website can be found at http://www.pennybrohncancercare.org/

Very best wishes

Sarah

Sarah's post has reminded me about an excellent web site you may find helpful.
www.canceractive.com
It is a charity set up by Chris Woolams when his daughter was diagnosed with cancer.
It is an amazing charity that specialises in investigating all types of treatment for cancer sufferers,which includes orthodox,alternative and dietary as well as spiritual. They try to make sense of all the info that is available and sort the wheat from the chaff.

Their website was playing up earlier this morning when i looked at it, but am sure it will be operating normaly asap.

Regards
Linda