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Probiotics

Guidelines
Cautions
Dosing
Integrative
Programs
More
Information

BCCT plans to write a summary on probiotics. While our summary is in development, you can visit About Herbs: Probiotics

Clinical Practice Guidelines

The Society for Integrative Oncology’s 2009 guidelines on botanicals cite research indicating that probiotics are useful in reducing enteritis related to radiation therapy and Fluorouracil (5-FU), as well as reducing diarrhea induced by 5-FU and Irinotecan.¹

Cautions

The About Herbs summary on Probiotics lists contraindications to taking probiotics as well as adverse events and herb-drug interactions.

Neil McKinney, ND, and Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO, do not give probiotics if the absolute neutrophil count is 1.5 or less.²³

BCCT advises consulting with your physician before taking probiotic supplements. It may also be a good idea to work with a healthcare provider experienced in using probiotics in people with cancer, as many different types of probiotics are available, and taking the appropriate probiotic for your particular situation is important.

Dosing

BCCT does not recommend therapies or doses, but only provides information for patients and providers to consider as part of a complete treatment plan. Patients should discuss therapies with their physicians, as contraindications, interactions and side effects must be evaluated.

Dosage recommendations are available from these sources:

• Solutions 4 Health: Colorectal Cancer Wellness Plan
• Alschuler LN, Gazella KA. The Definitive Guide to Cancer, 3rd Edition: An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing. Berkeley, California: Celestial Arts. 2010.
• Alschuler LN, Gazella KA. The Definitive Guide to Thriving after Cancer. Berkeley, California: Ten Speed Press. 2013.
• Block KI. Life over Cancer: The Block Center Program for Integrative Cancer Care. New York: Bantam Dell. 2009.
• McKinney N. Naturopathic Oncology, 3rd Edition. Victoria, BC, Canada: Liaison Press. 2016.
• TRC Natural Medicines (subscription required): Look up the name of specific microorganisms (such as Lactobacillus) to get summaries. You can also look up specific products and get dosage recommendations.

Integrative Programs, Protocols and Medical Systems

• Programs and protocols
• Alschuler & Gazella complementary approaches for prevention⁴
• Post-operative support
• Bladder cancer
• Breast cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Gastric cancer
• Pancreatic cancer (to reduce infection risk after Whipple procedure)
• Healthy digestion
• Hormone balance
• Immune enhancement
• Anti-inflammatory support
• Insulin-resistance reversal
• Managing diarrhea
• Alschuler & Gazella complementary approaches for after cancer treatment:⁵
• Enhancing immune activity
• Reducing inflammation and systemic inflammatory diseases
• Reducing anxiety and depression
• Improving insulin sensitivity
• Improving digestion and detoxification
• Reducing cancer risk
• Reducing risk of dysbiosis from antibiotics
• Colorectal cancer
• Block program⁶
  • Core diet plan
  • Preventing/managing diarrhea from antibiotics
  • Radiation induced enteritis
  • High-intensity nutritional support diet for cachexia (wasting)
• Lemole, Mehta & McKee colorectal cancer protocol⁷
• McKinney protocols⁸
  • Post-op diarrhea
  • With radiation therapy to protect gut and immune competence
  • Treatment-related diarrhea
  • With platin drugs (such as cisplatin) to prevent gut bacteria translocation to liver/blood
  • Protocol for better nutrition
  • Side effect alleviation protocol
  • Health restoration and creating healing conditions--detoxification
  • Cancer risk reduction plan
  • Reducing dysbiosis risk from antibiotics
  • Breast cancer
  • Colorectal cancer
• Traditional systems
  • Ayurveda
  • Traditional Chinese medicine

1. Deng GE, Frenkel M et al. Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for integrative oncology: complementary therapies and botanicals. Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology. 2009 Summer;7(3):85-120.
2. McKinney N. Naturopathic Oncology, 3rd Edition. Victoria, BC, Canada: Liaison Press. 2016;
3. Alschuler LN, Gazella KA. The Definitive Guide to Cancer, 3rd Edition: An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing. Berkeley, California: Celestial Arts. 2010.
4. Alschuler LN, Gazella KA. The Definitive Guide to Cancer, 3rd Edition: An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing. Berkeley, California: Celestial Arts. 2010.
5. Alschuler LN, Gazella KA. The Definitive Guide to Thriving after Cancer. Berkeley, California: Ten Speed Press. 2013
6. Block KI. Life over Cancer: The Block Center Program for Integrative Cancer Treatment. New York: Bantam Dell. 2009.
7. Lemole G, Mehta P, McKee D. After Cancer Care: The Definitive Self-Care Guide to Getting and Staying Well for Patients with Cancer. New York, New York: Rodale, Inc. 2015.
8. McKinney N. Naturopathic Oncology, 3rd Edition. Victoria, BC, Canada: Liaison Press. 2016.

View All References

More Information

• ClinicalTrials.gov
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: About Herbs, Botanicals and Other Products
• Keith I. Block, MD: Life over Cancer: The Block Center Program for Integrative Cancer Treatment
• ConsumerLab.com
• Lone Star Medical Group: Natural Alternative Treatments
• National Cancer Institute: Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• Block KI, Block PB, Gyllenhaal C: Integrative Treatment for Colorectal Cancer