TURMERIC CAN HELP IN BREAST CANCER TREATMENT: RESEARCH

Turmeric, a flowering plant in the ginger family, is used by some arthritis sufferers who say it reduces their joint pain.

The Safeway Foundation grant will help UC Davis test giving turmeric in a pill in combination with oral anti-estrogen drugs. The goal is to see if the spice can successfully reduce joint pain in breast cancer patients and explore whether it improves the quality of their lives.

Oral oestrogen blockers are used to treat hormonally-driven breast cancer, which accounts for about 70 percent of cases.

But because the drugs can cause joint discomfort, many women quit taking them, which puts them at a higher risk of relapsing.

UC Davis associate professor of haematology and oncology, Mili Arora, said "This gift will have a tremendous impact on our program," She said, "We thank the Safeway Foundation for supporting our efforts to help breast cancer patients live their lives to the fullest extent possible."

The study will allow Dr. Arora and her team to provide breast cancer patients with essential data on the safety and effectiveness of using turmeric with oral anti-estrogen therapy.