Green tea okay with Herceptin?
Meet the Experts
Gary Deng, M.D., Ph.D. is an internist and researcher with the Integrative Medicine Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He is a principal investigator or co-principal investigator in several NIH-funded research projects in the Integrative Medicine Service.
Beth Baughman DuPree, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a general surgeon with a focus in breast cancer care and the CEO and medical director of the Comprehensive Breast Care Institute at DSI of Bucks County, PA.
Question from PMama: Are you aware of a contraindication (or the potential to decrease the effectiveness of treatment) in drinking green tea if you are receiving Herceptin treatments?
- Answers —Beth DuPree, M.D., F.A.C.S.: Since green tea is considered to be high in antioxidants, and as we said before, antioxidants help to stop free radical formation, I do not believe that there's any contraindication to drinking green tea during Herceptin treatment, as Herceptin acts by blocking the HER2/neu receptor on the cell surface.
- Gary Deng, M.D., Ph.D.: I agree. I do not see any reason green tea would interact with Herceptin in an undesirable way.
On Wednesday, July 18, 2007, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Vitamins and Herbal Supplements. Gary Deng, M.D., Ph.D. and moderator Beth Baughman DuPree, M.D., F.A.C.S. answered your questions about how to safely and sensibly incorporate vitamins and supplements into your diet.
The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.
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