Turkey Tail Mushrooms for Breast Cancer
Key Takeaways:
There’s not enough research to know if turkey tail mushroom supplements can help fight cancer and help people with cancer live longer.
A few small studies in people show that some turkey tail preparations may boost immune response, enhance chemotherapy and radiation, and reduce side effects.
Turkey tail is safe for most people. But you shouldn’t take it if you’re taking an immunosuppressant, have an autoimmune condition, or are receiving immunotherapy.
In some parts of the world, people take medicinal mushrooms for their health. Rather than eating these mushrooms as food, people take them as supplements. One of the most well-researched medicinal mushrooms is turkey tail.
Turkey tail is mostly used to boost the immune system or fight cancer. A chemical from the turkey tail mushroom — called PSK or krestin — has been used in Japan since the mid-1970s to reduce the risk of cancer coming back. More and more people around the world are now using turkey tail mushrooms for their health. You can take a turkey tail supplement as a tea, liquid extract, or capsule.
Turkey tail mushrooms can’t cure cancer, but they can be used as a complementary therapy.
What the research shows
Only a few small studies have tested the effects of turkey tail on people with cancer. (In studies, turkey tail mushrooms are often called by their scientific name, Trametes versicolor or Coriolus versicolor.)
The chemicals in turkey tail that give the mushroom most of its benefits are PSP (polysaccharopeptide) and PSK (polysaccharide-K, or krestin). Some studies look at PSK or PSP rather than turkey tail as a whole. Taking turkey tail supplements may not have the same effects as taking PSK or PSP extracts. Many studies look at PSK specifically.
Immune response
Research shows that some turkey tail preparations may boost the immune system, which can help the body fight tumors. Studies in people with gastric cancer who had surgery and chemotherapy found that taking PSK may improve the levels of various types of immune cells. A meta-analysis including 11 studies in people with lung cancer found that PSK increases various aspects of immune function, including counts of white blood cells, antibodies, and proteins that signal to the immune system.
Treatment response
People with cancer who take some turkey tail preparations in addition to radiation therapy or chemotherapy may live longer, according to a meta-analysis with more than 4,000 people. But researchers have only looked at a handful of cancer types.
The most evidence is for gastric cancer, for which research has found that PSK improves three- and five-year survival, then colorectal cancer and lung cancer. For example, a meta-analysis found that people with lung cancer who took PSK may be less likely to have cancer progress and may have improved one-year survival. Some evidence suggests that adding turkey tail to treatment may also improve survival in people with breast cancer, esophageal cancer, a subtype of leukemia, and advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
Treatment side effects
Several studies of people with cancer suggest turkey tail, particularly in the form of PSK extract, may help to reduce side effects. PSK may improve quality of life — including social and emotional functioning, appetite loss, and pain — for people with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma who aren’t eligible for standard treatment. Similarly, research shows that people with lung cancer who took PSK in addition to radiation and chemotherapy saw improvements in body weight, symptoms like fatigue and pain, and their ability to carry out everyday activities.
Cell and animal studies
Studies in cells and animals are an important early step in research. But we can’t draw conclusions about how things will work in people based on these studies. For example, adding turkey tail extract to cells in a lab dish can’t tell researchers how the mushroom will be absorbed or broken down in your body. And cancer can behave differently in a mouse than it does in a person. These studies are valuable, though, because they help researchers find promising leads and decide if they should test these leads in people.
Studies in animals and cells suggest that turkey tail boosts the immune system and fights cancer. In animals, some turkey tail formulations appear to regulate genes related to cancer, reduce tumor size and growth, prevent cancer cells from turning into tumors, and stop tumors from growing new blood vessels. Lab studies also suggest that turkey tail and especially PSK can enhance the effects of cancer treatment. More studies are needed to know if PSK has the same effects on people.
Other uses
PSK may help protect the body from oxidative damage, which increases the risk of cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, and neurological diseases. PSP may also act as a prebiotic and improve the gut microbiome, according to a study in people without health conditions.
Safety, risks, and side effects
Turkey tail mushrooms are generally safe. But always check with your doctor before starting a new supplement. Side effects from turkey tail may include dark-colored poop and dark fingernails.
There is no standard turkey tail dose, but taking around 3 grams daily is common. Ask your doctor what formulation and dose of turkey tail is right for you.
Turkey tail may not be safe for people who take immunosuppressants, have an autoimmune condition, or who are receiving immunotherapy. This is because turkey tail boosts the immune system, which works against immunosuppressants. And it can kick the immune system into overdrive in people with autoimmune disorders or who are taking immunotherapy.
Should you take turkey tail supplements?
More studies in people are needed to understand if turkey tail and PSK can help people with cancer, including breast cancer. Taking turkey tail supplements is generally safe, so people with cancer may consider taking them as a complementary therapy. Be sure to talk to your doctor before taking turkey tail or PSK supplements.