Spice of Life: Curcumin and Dog Cancer
ByIn researching topics for expanded treatments of dog cancer, I have discovered surprises aplenty.
Because of the desire for options beyond surgery, chemo and radiation for dog cancer, I chose to look in areas that I would have ignored just a few years back.
One of the hottest topics in cancer research right now is the dietary flavonoid group. This is just a bunch of substances that are found in foods which have beneficial effects against cancer.
We all know that certain foods or dietary choices have influence on cancer development and overall health. I came accross a statistic in human medicine that stated that about one third of cancers in people could have been prevented with lifestyle choices (this was excluding the effects of cigarette smoking).
One of the biggest lifestyle choices is the inclusion of certain foods that combat the effects of environmental carcinogens, genetic tendencies, trace water pharmaceuticals, viral DNA changes, dietary carcinogens, electrical field effects, and more.
Most of these naturally occuring flavanoids have very low toxicities. One of the biggies is curcumin.
Curcumin is found in turmeric, which is the spice that is used in curries. Curcumin is exceedingly interesting for dogs with cancer. It is one of the core ingredients I use in cancer supplement programs for my patients and I have seen literal shrinkage of different dog lumps, like hemangiosarcomas of the skin, fatty tumors (lipomas) , fibrosarcomas, and plasmacytomas. I rely on it a lot.
This substance is being used as a model for tons of anticancer drugs in development right now. Here is some info. And here is some more. Over 40 different curcumin analogs (new drugs using curcumin as a template) are being researched at Ohio State University.
Why not just use the curcumin, instead of going through all the bother of making these new drugs? There are two main reasons.
My grandfather left me these wise words: “When you want to find the reason for something, look for the dollar.”
So of course money has something to do with it. You can’t patent a naturally occurring compound. However, if you tweak its structure to produce a synthetic analog, get the lawyers together to protect the intellectual property, patent it, you are set for years. In this way big pharma protects profits.
Secondly, curcumin has some bioavailability problems. This means that the stuff doesn’t, to a large extent, get absorbed into the blood after it is taken by mouth. However, there are ways around this.
If you want to find out more about curcumin, please read the next post!!
Best to all,
Dr Dressler
About the Author
Dr. Demian Dressler, DVM is known as the "dog cancer vet" and is author of Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Beyond Surgery, Chemotherapy & Radiation. Visit his blog and sign up free to get the latest information about canine cancer. Go to http://DogCancerBlog.com.
11 Comments
March 4th, 2009 at 5:02 am
Hi:
I wish I had known about you when my dog had cancer. He ultimately died from it. I adored him and it was very difficult to lose him.
I’m curious if your business is only online, and if you have a practice, what city do you practice in? I’m in L.A. Of course, I have no dog now but I’m hoping to get another, however challenging that might be (given my strong attachment to my late dog).
March 4th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Iam from India. We have been using turmeric in our cooking for the last 5000 years. There was a company that tried to patent it, but could not because of the public uproar.
Iam a strong believer in capitalism. If a company has genuinely put in the effort to make a drug or any other product, then of course, it needs to make cash off of it. But not with something that has been around for 5000 years.
That said, anytime I make boiled chicken for my dog, I do add a dash of turmeric. She loves the flavor and I love that it is good for her. Talk about win win!
March 4th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Hi Dr.Dressler – I am currently giving my golden tumeric bid for his brain tumor along with other supplements. He was given 3-6 months to live on Sept. 4, 08. Today is 6 months and he is still a happy, active boy. We are taking it day by day. Thank you for your website,
Karen Bender, Springfield, NJ
March 7th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Thanks a lot Karen, I hope it helps.
D
March 7th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Hi Anu!
Good to see you!! (on the blog as well as in the pet hospital)
D
March 9th, 2009 at 4:33 am
How much of this spice should you be giving your dog each day!
Thanks
March 9th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Joanne,
the dose for an average large adult dog is roughly 2 grams two times a day, taken from human studies.
If you have more questions please check out the webinar:
http://dogcancerblog.com/ask
Thanks!
D
March 25th, 2009 at 4:33 am
How much Can I give a dog with a liver tumor? 3 of her liver values are normal right now acording to her blood tests. Two vets have said they do not think she would survive surgery- because it is so large.
Hard part she has no symptoms and it was found at a routine physical.
Thank you,
April 22nd, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Dr. D,
I have an 11 yr old Schnauzer, Toby, who had a leg amputated 19 mos ago for grade 1, fibrosarcoma.
He did great for a yr, then began coughing and short, shallow breathing, and steady wt. loss. We know from an x-ray that he, now, has a large mediastinal mass.
He seems to be nearing the end and we love him too much to make him suffer just to keep him a little longer. But, I wonder, could it actually help him to begin giving the curcumin now? He still has an appetite, but is picky. (I can usually get pills or drops down him ok, but its hard to mix things in his food.)
Also how much for a 22 lb. dog (down from 45 lbs)? He currently takes 12.5 mg lasix daily, 12.5 mg benadryl daily, and 100 mg Theophyline 2x daily.
Toby was a stray, but he’s been our special boy for almost 10 yrs. It’s breaking our hearts to lose him!
If curcumin can still help him, this late, we’d be glad to start him asap.
Thanks,
Marsha
April 28th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
My chihuahua too has a mast cell tumor stage 3 ..he started bleeding from the rectum tonight. The MCT started in the scrotum which was ablated. He also has gone through the chemo drug vinblastine the 3 days of the cytoxan could not finish the 4th day. Is it to late too for this curcumin …he is not eating and barely drinks his water, as of today.
Sincerely,
Janet
November 29th, 2009 at 8:01 am
Does Turmeric interfere with chemo? Specifically adriamycin for HSA?