Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of CG4 (an Ayurvedic formulation) in minimizing the side effects of chemotherapy and on Quality of Life in breast cancer patients. In the present study the immediately occurring side effects of chemotherapy namely anorexia, nausea, taste abnormality, vomiting, diarrhea, GI bleeding, stomatitis, constipation were studied. The Quality of Life and Karnofsky score for performance status of breast cancer patients were also assessed. In this open labeled controlled clinical study, 100 diagnosed breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy only (control, n = 50) and chemotherapy with adjunct Ayurvedic medicines CG4 (study, n =50) were enrolled. Universally accepted standard assessment parameters like common toxicity criteria (CTC), Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ C30) and Karnofsky score were used as outcome measures. ‘CG4’ a combination of four Ayurvedic medicines was used. Statistically significant reduction in side effects of chemotherapy like anorexia, nausea, vomiting, GI bleeding, diarrhea and constipation was observed in the study group patients. While Karnofsky score and global score of QLQ also showed significant improvement in study group patients at the end of chemotherapy. It indicates the effectiveness of Ayurvedic formulation CG4 in minimizing the toxicities of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.

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