Prolongation of survival time of incurable terminal cancer patients with herbal medicines

Background: Cancer treatment in a developing world is quite a challenging affair. In a country like India conventional cancer treatment is beyond the reach of many economically challenged patients. Moreover, due to lack of awareness in public, shortage of oncologists and cancer treatment hospitals majority patients present to a clinic with very advanced incurable disease. As a result many terminal cancer patients with limited conventional treatment options are compelled to try various complementary and alternative therapies like Ayurveda, homeopathy, herbal, traditional or even black magic. Little is known about the clinical efficacy about these therapies on cancer treatment; however, in some instances unexplained prolongation of survival period of terminal cancer patients has been observed with certain herbal medicines. Aim: We followed two terminal patients with incurable advanced cancer treated with herbal medicines. Materials and methods: One of the patients was suffering from multiple myeloma and the other with disseminated rectal cancer. Both these patients had advanced disease, refused conventional treatment and was treated with a herbal composition comprising of herbs, viz. Azadirachta indica, Curcuma longa, Embelica officinalis, Ocimum sanctum, Semecarpus anacardium, and Tinospora cordifolia. Results: The patient suffering from multiple myeloma survived for 19 years and that of rectal cancer survived for 5 years, respectively. Conclusion: In absence of any conventional therapy the prolongation of survival time observed may be attributed to the herbal treatment.