The Forbidden ‘C’ Word - Cancer immediately sends shivers down one’s spine. Cancer has evolved into an endemic disease over the last few decades, affecting a chunk of the population’s health negatively. Humankind continues to be plagued by this disease, recording a whopping 10 million deaths in 2019 itself. Health experts continue to be grim about the situation, estimating that the numbers may reach 13 million by 2030.
The need to find different ways to fight cancer and restore health has left scientists on the edge. Constant research and experimentation are performed to devise new therapies that, apart from managing the cancerous cells, boost the immune system to fight cancer and other diseases. Among these, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has become popular due to its promise to enhance the immune system’s fighting power.
Many CAMs are plant-derived, including algae and mushrooms that have been used widely in many parts of the world, where they are regarded as biological response modifiers (BRMs) and immunoceuticals. Fungi, specifically mushrooms, are rich in protein, minerals, and other nutrients which help in boosting the immune system.
Recent studies show that mushrooms have immunomodulatory properties that
- Modulate humoral and cellular immunity
- Rejuvenate the immune system
- Potentiate antimutagenic and antitumorigenic activity that was weakened by radiotherapy and chemotherapy in cancer treatments
Mushroom compounds are gaining popularity as complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) in treating cancer. Different mushrooms can treat different cancers
Cordyceps - Lymphoma
Turkey Tail - Gastric cancer
Reishi - Breast cancer, Prostate cancer, Lung cancer, Sarcoma
Agaricus - Leukaemia, Hepatocellular carcinoma
These anti-cancer properties of mushrooms provide a glimpse of hope to humanity and encourage us to seek better methods to harness their qualities in making quality drugs that can be accessible and affordable to all, thereby promising a better fighting chance against cancer.