Download PDF
Homœopathic Links 2020; 33(02): 090-098
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1712479
Original Article
Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd.

Homoeopathic Management of Breast Fibroadenoma—An Open Label, Single Arm, Observational Trial

Purnima Shukla
1   Homoeopathic consultant, Holistic Medical Research Foundation, C-4, Shivalik, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi- 110 017
,
Purak Misra
2   Department of Surgery, ESIC Medical College, Faridabad, Haryana, India
,
Rajiv Kumar Misra
3   Department of Pathology, B.R.D Medical College, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
,
Rishabh Kumar Jain
4   Department of Radiodiagnosis, B.R.D Medical College, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
,
Rakesh Shukla
5   Department of Pharmacology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
,
R.K Manchanda
6   Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, New Delhi, India
,
Anil Khurana
6   Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, New Delhi, India
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
26 June 2020 (online)

    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Background Fibroadenoma of breast is the commonest ailment of women with significant morbidity. Available literature revealed that breast tumour recedes by homoeopathic treatment.

The present study evaluated the role of homoeopathic treatment on breast fibroadenoma by using ‘Triple assessment criteria’ and to explore the mechanism, whether homoeopathic medicines bring their therapeutic effect by altering the oestrogen and progesterone receptor (ER/PR) status on tumour tissue.

Materials and Methods An open label, prospective, single arm, observational study was conducted on 64 female patients having fibroadenoma of breast. Triple assessment criteria were used to explore the effectiveness of homoeopathic treatment on breast fibroadenoma. Individualised homoeopathic medicines were prescribed. The outcome measures were changes in clinical picture, number and size of lump by ultrasonomammography. ER/PR study was performed by immunohistochemistry using quick score analysis.

Results Post-treatment response of 23 cases (35.93%) of fibroadenoma revealed disappearance of lump. Partial improvement was noticed in 22 cases (34.37%) with significant reduction in mean size (p < 0.001). Similarly significant reduction in number of lesions was seen in fibroadenoma (p <0.05). Conium maculatum and Phytolacca decandra were found to be the most useful remedies. Quick score value of ER after treatment showed significant reduction (Z = 4.910).

Conclusion The study revealed that the therapeutic effects of individualised homoeopathic medicines play significant role in management of fibroadenoma of breast. The results of ER/PR show significant reduction in ER suggesting that homoeopathic medicines have some inhibitory effect on ER.

Keywords

fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) - ultrasonomammography - oestrogen receptor (ER) - progesterone receptor (PR) - homoeopathy - breast fibroadenoma

Author Contribution

PS: Concept, literature search, clinical study, data acquisition, data interpretation and preparation of the article; PM: About the present modern medicine intervention, drafting the paper; RK Misra: Expert opinion regarding pathological investigation; RKJ: Ultrasonological examination and expert opinion; RS: Research advice; RK Manchanda and AK: Technical opinion regarding research. All the authors reviewed and approved the final paper.


Financial Support

The project was funded under the Extra-Mural Research Scheme of Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy, Government of India (vide letter no F. No - 23 - 111/2009 - 10/CCRH/Tech/EMR/8758 dated 7th September 2009). Technical and administrative support was provided by the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy.


Comment to this article:

Homoeopathic Management of Breast Fibroadenoma—An Open Label, Single Arm, Observational TrialHomœopathic Links 2021; 34(S 01): 037-045
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1731849

 

  • References

  • 1 Srivatsava A, Dhar A. Benign breast disease: a neglected entity. Recent Adv Surg 2006; 10: 175-201
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Bradber J, Thompson K. . Lumps in the Breast. Surgical problems in Clinical Practice by Johan Fry and Hadley; London: Arnold Publication Ltd; 1987: 56-67
  • 3 Beers MH, Berkow R, Fletcher AJ. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis. 16th edition. USA New Jersey: Merck & Co. INC, Merck Research Laboratories; 1998: 1814-1815
    Google Scholar
  • 4 https://breastcancer.about.com/od/breastcancersurgery/a/fibro-treatment-hub.htm [Accessed Nov 24, 2019]
    PubMed
  • 5 http://www.cancer.net/research-and-advocacy/asco-care-and-treatment-recommendations-Patients/ hormonal-therapy-hormone-receptor-positive-breast-cancer hormone [Accessed Nov 24, 2019]
    PubMed
  • 6 India. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of AYUSH.AYUSH in India. Available from http://www.indianmedicine.nic.in ; [Accessed Nov 24, 2019]
    PubMed
  • 7 Burnett JC. Curability of Tumours by Homoeopathic Medicine. New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd; 2002: 47-61
    Google Scholar
  • 8 Clarke JH. The Cure of Tumours by Medicines, with special reference to the Cancer Nosodes. New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers; 1992: 94-157
    Google Scholar
  • 9 Moiloa MRA, Brodie KJ, Roohani J. The efficacy of Phytolacca decandra in the treatment of fibroadenoma of the breast. AJHM 2006; 99 (02) 116-119
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Webb AJ. The treacherous fibroadenoma: a ‘mighty mouse’. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 1996; 78 (06) 557-558
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Dixon JM, Masterton G, Pugh R, Sainbury JRC. . Handbook of Diseases of Breast. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingston; 1998: 43-47
  • 12 Wilkinson S, Anderson TJ, Rifkind E, Chetty U, Forrest AP. Fibroadenoma of the breast: a follow-up of conservative management. Br J Surg 1989; 76 (04) 390-391
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Cant PJ, Madden MV, Close PM, Learmonth GM, Hacking EA, Dent DM. Case for conservative management of selected fibro-adenomas of the breast. Br J Surg 1987; 74 (09) 857-859
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Dixon JM, Dobie V, Lamb J, Walsh JS, Chetty U. Assessment of the acceptability of conservative management of fibroadenoma of the breast. Br J Surg 1996; 83 (02) 264-265
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Singh K, Azad T, Gupta GD. The accuracy of ultrasound in diagnosis of palpable breast lumps. JK Sci 2008; 10 (04) 186-188
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Khan SA, Rogers MA, Khurana KK, Meguid MM, Numann PJ. Estrogen receptor expression in benign breast epithelium and breast cancer risk. J Natl Cancer Inst 1998; 90 (01) 37-42
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Woolcott CG, SenGupta SK, Hanna WM, Aronson KJ. Estrogen and progesterone receptor levels in nonneoplastic breast epithelium of breast cancer cases versus benign breast biopsy controls. BMC Cancer 2008; 8: 130 . Doi: 10.1186/1471-2407-8-130
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 McGuire WL, Horwitz KB, Pearson OH, Segaloff A. Current status of estrogen and progesterone receptors in breast cancer. Cancer 1977; 39 (06) 2934-2947
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Bassett LW, Mitchelle Jr JW. The Female Breast and Its Disorders. Maryland: Williams and Wilkins; 1990: 92-99
    Google Scholar
  • 20 Carr PF, Freund KM, Somani S. The Medical Care of Women. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Co; 1995: 144-152
    Google Scholar
  • 21 Blackwell RE, Groting JC. Diagnosis and Management of Breast Diseases. Oxford; Blackwell Science; 1996: 99-100 , 166–177, 190–191
    Google Scholar
  • 22 Frederick C, Koerner FC. O' Connell JX. Fibroadenoma: morphological observations and a theory of pathogenesis. Pathol Annu 1994; 29 (01) 1-19 [PMID: 8127621]
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Underwood JCE. . General and Systemic Pathology. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingston; 2000: 479-480
  • 24 Way LN. Current Surgical Diagnosis and Treatment. 10th edition. New Jersey: Appleton and Lange Paramount Publishing Business; 1996: 314-315
    Google Scholar
  • 25 Yelland A, Gazet JC, Coombes RC. Conservative management of fibroadenoma of the breast. Br J Surg 1996; 83 (11) 1653
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Kinsella MD, Nassar A, Siddiqui MT, Cohen C. Estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2 expression pre- and post- neoadjuvant chemotherapy in primary breast carcinoma: a single institutional experience. Int J Clin Exp Pathol 2012; 5 (06) 530-536 [PMID: 22949935]
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Shukla P, Nayak C, Baig MQ, Misra P. A systematic review of controlled trials of homeopathy in adverse effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in cancer. Homoeopathic Links 2019; 32 (03) 131-140
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar