Breast cancer strikes millions worldwide, casting a shadow over the lives of patients and their families with its daunting diagnosis. Yet, amid the search for more effective treatments beyond the conventional arsenal of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, a glimmer of hope emerges from an unlikely source. Fenbendazole, a drug once solely known for treating parasitic infections in animals, is stepping into the spotlight for its potential in battling breast cancer. Join us as we explore how this veterinary medication is making the leap to human cancer therapy, uncovering the science behind its anticancer properties, and sharing the inspiring stories of those who believe in its life-saving potential.
Understanding Breast Cancer: Basics to Know
Breast cancer, the second most common cancer diagnosed in women worldwide, begins as a growth of cells in the breast tissue. Normally, cells in our bodies grow, divide, and die in a controlled way. But sometimes, changes happen in certain genes, like mutations, which can make cells grow uncontrollably. These changes can cause normal breast cells to become cancerous. When these abnormal cells keep growing and don’t die off like they should, they can form a tumor. And if these cancer cells spread to other parts of the body, it can become more serious.
Survival Rates and Treatments
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the 5-year survival rate for breast cancer worldwide is approximately 90% for localized tumors (those that have not spread beyond the breast) and about 85% for regional tumors (those that have spread to nearby lymph nodes), both rates have improved in recent years thanks to early detection and new treatment options. Unfortunately, for distant metastatic tumors (those that have spread to distant organs), the survival rate is only about 15%.
Conventional treatment for breast cancer typically involves a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy, depending on the stage and characteristics of the cancer.
Treatment plans are individualized based on factors such as the stage and subtype of breast cancer, as well as the patient’s overall health and preferences. Emerging treatments such as immunotherapy are also being investigated in clinical trials and may become part of standard treatment in the future. Early detection through screening mammograms and advances in treatment have significantly improved the outlook for individuals diagnosed with breast cancer.
The Promise of Repurposed Medicines in Cancer Treatment
The field of drug development is one of the most complicated and daunting tasks in biomedical research. It involves a lot of steps and challenges, like designing the drug, and making sure it’s safe and effective, and getting approval to sell it, all of which can take years and millions of dollars. But researchers have found a way to speed things up and save money by repurposing existing drugs for new uses, including treating cancer.
In oncology, repurposing is not a new idea. In fact, the first chemotherapy drugs originally had an entirely different purpose: they were repurposed from chemical weapons. When treating the victims of “mustard gas”, doctors realized the same toxins that caused blistering might actually have tumor-reducing power and began to convert the toxic compound into a therapeutic one. Many of the most successful cases of drug repurposing have been equally as serendipitous – discovered more by chance than intent.
With so many unrelated diseases sharing common molecular characteristics, it stands to reason that there would be huge areas of overlap when it comes to treatment.
Researchers are looking at drugs that are already approved for other conditions to see if they could also work against breast cancer. For example, a study involving over 57,000 women examined the relationship between taking aspirin and the risk of developing breast cancer. After eight years, around 3% of the women had been newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Among those who reported regularly taking a low dose of aspirin (81 mg) at least three days a week, there were noticeably fewer cases of breast cancer.
Fenbendazole: From Veterinary Use to Cancer Research
Fenbendazole (brand names Panacur C ®, Safe-Guard ®) is a veterinary medication introduced in 1974. Worldwide, veterinarians commonly use fenbendazole, FBZ, to treat a variety of parasites in animals, such as tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms, lungworms, and whipworms. Like many repurposed drugs, the discovery of its potential as a treatment for cancer was accidental. In 2009, scientists at Johns Hopkins were researching glioblastoma in mice when they noticed one group of mice in which the tumors would not grow. After some investigating, the scientists discovered that the mice had been treated with fenbendazole in order to treat parasites which can often develop in lab animals.
Because Fenbendazole has been known to have a high safety margin for animal use as it is tolerated well, has low side effects, and has a low degree of toxicity, researchers began to consider whether it could be used to treat humans as well.
Fenbendazole is a microtubule inhibitor. Microtubules are like little ropes that are used to move things around inside the cell. When microtubules are prevented from doing their job of helping cells divide and reproduce, especially in cancer cells, the cancer cells will die. FBZ helps with cancer cell death. Research has shown that FBZ does not have the same impact on healthy cells.
Fenbendazole can work alongside traditional cancer therapies to decrease cancer cells. For example, one study found that FBZ can treat cancer by inhibiting the cancer cell’s glucose intake and acting as an interfering agent that blocks multiple cellular pathways in cancer cells.
The positive results of research about Fenbendazole as an anticancer agent mean the FDA could eventually approve the drug for treating human ailments, including cancer. This could save a considerable amount of time and money in developing new cancer-fighting drugs that are more affordable and accessible.
Fenbendazole for Breast Cancer: A Closer Look
Fenbendazole is being looked at as a repurposed drug specifically for treating breast cancer because of its ability to adjust the balance of certain molecules in cells, which helps control how cells grow and stay alive. By causing stress in breast cancer cells, there is potential to target and destroy them.
Studies have shown just this, that Fenbendazole can selectively target cancer cells while sparing healthy cells, which is crucial for reducing side effects and improving treatment outcomes. In one such comprehensive study, Fenbendazole was tested on three types of cells: healthy breast cells (MCF-10A), and two types of breast cancer cells (MCF7 – less aggressive, and MDA-MB-231 – more aggressive). After treating the cells for 48 hours, the study found that Fenben caused more stress in the highly aggressive MDA-MB-231 cells compared to the less aggressive MCF-7 cells. But in healthy MCF-10A cells, Fenbendazole actually reduced stress levels compared to untreated cells. These results point to Fenbendazole as a possible weapon specifically for aggressive breast cancers.
Fenbendazole Side Effects in Humans
As previously mentioned, Fenbendazole is commonly used as a veterinary medicine. While safety data exists for various animals, the safety and tolerability of Fenbendazole in humans for sustained periods of time have not been thoroughly studied yet.
However, despite the lack of scientific data, many patients have decided to try Fenbendazole on their own, as they don’t want to wait for the lengthy bureaucratic process of scientific data to be published. They are willing to take the risk and follow the protocol themselves.
Interestingly, most of these individuals report taking Fenbendazole without any side effects. Nonetheless, it’s important to note that individual results may vary, and taking Fenbendazole without consulting a healthcare professional first can be dangerous.
According to a study available from the European Medicine Agency, doses up to 500 mg per person did not result in serious adverse effects. This suggests that Fenbendazole may be safe for use in humans at this dose level. Additionally, single doses of up to 2,000 mg per person were reported to cause no serious adverse effects over ten days.
Side Effects of Fenbendazole Reported:
Most people have NO side effects. The main complaints of the small group of people who did experience side effects were:
* Mild diarrhea
* Mild stomach discomfort
* Elevated liver enzymes
Who May Be At Greater Risk of Side Effects?
- People who use Fenbendazole in high doses.
- People taking medications or supplements that use the same pathways as Fenbendazole.
- Those taking treatments/medications that increase liver enzymes
- People who are undergoing chemotherapy may experience more side effects. These may include high liver enzyme levels.
Minimizing Fenbendazole Side Effects
Minimizing the side effects of Fenbendazole is essential to ensure the safe use of the drug in humans. One of the most important ways to minimize side effects is by taking the correct dose for your needs. The dosage of Fenbendazole for humans can vary depending on factors such weight, medications you take, and the type of cancer being treated. It is recommended that you work with a healthcare professional who has experience with Fenbendazole and its use in cancer treatment.
Another important factor to consider when using Fenbendazole is the addition of supplements. While some supplements can enhance the effectiveness of Fenbendazole, others may interact negatively with the drug, causing side effects or reducing its efficacy. Therefore, it is crucial to discuss any supplements you are taking or considering taking with your healthcare professional to ensure their safety and efficacy.
A Safe Approach to Fenbendazole: Consulting Integrative Oncology Professionals
Working with an integrative healthcare professional is an excellent way to develop a protocol that fits your individual needs. Your healthcare provider will take a comprehensive medical history and review your current medications, lab reports, and treatment list to assess dosage and safety risks. This allows for a more personalized approach to the use of Fenbendazole in cancer treatment and reduces the risk of side effects.
