Homoeopathic management of breast cancer: a case report

Dr Chamundeshwari

ABSTRACT:
The incidence of this condition is constantly increasing in all regions of the world. It is more common in Western countries. Globally, 2.3 million new cases and 6,70,000 deaths from this condition occurred in 2022. Female gender is the strongest risk factor of this condition.  Approximately 99% of this condition occur in women and 0.5-1% occur in men. It is most common in middle aged and older women. It is about 0.3% between the age of 20-40 and 5% between 50-70 years.

Case description: A 52-year-old female came with the complaint of Lump in left breast associated with Generalized weakness since 6 months, Lower back ache and Giddiness. Case was diagnosed as Invasive left breast carcinoma with metastasis to left axillary lymph nodes and iliac bone. Patient using homoeopathic medicine along side conventional allopathic treatment for symptom relief. Homoeopathic remedies were thought to focus on palliative treatment method and address physical aspect.

KEYWORDS: Breast cancer, Homoeopathy, Palliation.

Conclusion: Over several months, the patient experienced improvement in her general symptoms, with decreased pain, generalized weakness and nausea. Follow-up showed continued and improved quality of life for patients. This case demonstrates the Palliative mode of homoeopathic treatment in the management of Breast Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: PATIENT HISTORY:

• Name: Mrs. XYZ Marital status: Married
• Age: 52 years / Female Occupation: Homemaker
• Residence: Kaniyar Hassan Date: 05/06/2024

CHIEF COMPLAINT:

• Patient came with the complaint of Lump over left breast associated with Generalized weakness since 6 months.
•  Lower back ache since 6 months.
• Giddiness since 6 months.

LOCATION	SENSATION	MODALITIES	CONCOMITANTS
1.Chest Left Breast- Left Upper Quadrant 2. Locomotor System Lumbar region 3. Generals	Stitching type of pain   Aching pain   Giddiness	< Prolonged sitting, Walking   < Rising up, Turning head to sides	Generalised weakness

HISTORY OF CHIEF COMPLAINTS
Patient was apparently healthy 6 months back. Gradually she started noticing a lump in her left breast since it was painless she ignored it. A  few months later,  She again noticed around 2 lumps in  left breast  with pain and swelling in left axillary region. Along with this gradually started with giddiness, Lower back ache and Generalized weakness. She consulted nearby doctor for the same and underwent investigation (On 18/4/2024- MAMMOGRAPHY REPORT show – An ill defined irregular hypo echoic lesion/mass in left breast. Left axillary lymphadenitis.

BI-RADS- 3. Lesions notes: Between 12’O clock to 1’O clock position in left breast. Measure: 3.4x 2.6cm.

• Biopsy- B4( Suspicious) The sample suggests the possibility of cancer, but further investigation is needed.
• He advised to have higher investigation for the further management. On 2/5/2024 she visited KIDWAI, Where a Biopsy, Mammography and PET scan was done. On 5/6/ 2024 she came to GHMC with the reports.

PAST HISTORY:

• Allergic History: Nothing specific, Surgical History: Nothing specific,
• Medicinal History: History of pneumonia in 2019 .

Typhoid fever in 2020

Under allopathic medication for DM and HTN since 6 months.

Tab. Metformin 500mg (DM) , Tab. Amlong A 5mg (HTN)

FAMILY HISTORY:

RELATION	HEALTH  STATUS
Father	Died, due to uncontrolled DM
Mother	Died, due to intestinal cancer
1 Younger sister	Died, 1 year ago, uncontrolled DM
1 Younger brother	Died, 6 year ago, cancer of stomach
2 Younger brother	Died, 2 year ago covid infection
1 Son	Alive, Apparently healthy
2 Son	Alive, CSOM

PERSONAL HISTORY:

Diet	Mixed
Appetite and hunger	Diminished since 6 months, easy satiety
Thirst	Thirstless, prefer Luke warm water, (cold water gets headache)
Desires	Nothing specific
Aversion	Nothing specific
Bladder habits	4-5 day/ 1-2 night
Bowel habits	Once in two days
Persipiration	Generalized
Sleep/ dreams	Disturbed due to pain
Thermal status	Chilly
Habits	Nothing specific

MENSTRUAL HISTORY

• Menarche at the age of 12 years.
• Menopause at the age of 47 years.

OBSTETRIC HISTORY

GRAVIDA	PARA	LIVE BIRTH	ABORTION	STILL BIRTH
G1	P1	L1 PRE TERM	_	_
G2	P2	L2 FTND	_	_

MENTALS:

Patient was born and brought up at Hassan. Patient belongs to a poor economic status, father was a fruit seller and mother was working as house maid. She is the 4^th child/daughter and she has 1 Elder sister and 2 Elder brothers.

She was an average student in class, not much interested in studies. Due to financial issues she   discontinued her studies and as she had to take care of her brothers children. At the age of 16 she was forced to get married, She had no interest in marriage.

Her married life was not good as her husband used to beat her up and her sister in law was very rude to her ( she used to make me over work at home and she used to tell bad things about me to her brother) and because of this her husband used to beat her up.

She could not go to her mother’s home as her husband demanded dowry and she doesn’t wanted to burden her family. Due to this, she had a thoughts of  suicide twice. But she knew that she has to live for her children.

After being diagnosed with this disease, she developed anxiety about who would take care of her children. She also worries about her health, as the disease is incurable and will eventually lead to her death.

On observation  : Yielding disposition, Suicidal thoughts, Suppressed emotions

GENERAL PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

• Lymphadenopathy: Left axillary lymph nodes are enlarged.

LOCAL EXAMINATION- LEFT BREAST

INSPECTION: Skin – No discoloration Scar – No scar marks Size of breast  – Left side slightly enlarged Visible veins – No visible veins Visible mass – Present

PALPATION 1. Nipple & Areolar complex – Enlarged compare to other, Nipple inverted 2. 4 Quadrants of breast – Tenderness present over lump2 lumps over upper outer    quadrant Skin pinching is limited over lump Size of lump around 3×2.5cm and 4x3cm Consistency of lump- Both the lump were hard Margins of the lump- Are not distinct Compressibility of lump- Not compressible Pulsatility of lump- Absent Mobility- Both the lumps were immobile 3. Supraclavicular fossa – No enlarged lymph nodes 4. Axilla – Not elicited 5. Arm – Not elicited LOCAL EXAMINATION- INGUINAL LYMPH NODES – Not elicited

VITAL SIGNS

• Blood pressure: 110/70 mm hg
• Pulse rate: 72 beats/ min
• Respiratory rate: 17 cycles/ min
• Temperature: Afebrile at the time of examination

 HOMOEOPATHIC APPROACH:

Fundamental miasm – Syphilis
Dominant miasm – Trimiasmatic

REPERTORIAL TOTALILY WITH RUBRICS:
Sector approach is done referring Synthesis Repertory

Rubrics
Vertigo – turning when
Chest Cancer mammae left
Back Lumbago
Sleep disturbed pain by
Gen Pain Stitching pain

Conium : 10/4, Caust 6/4, Bry 7/3

TREATMENT:

Rx:

Conium maculatum 30C / TID 3 Days

Conium maculatum 30C was given  based on sector totality and miasmatic analysis. As the case shows Breast enlarged, Stitching pain in nipples, Axillary glands pain, cancer of mammae, Cancerous diathesis and Worse Vertigo when turning head sidewise or rising in bed. Conium covers symptoms of breast cancer.

FOLLOW UP: Table 01

DATE	SYMPTOMS	PR ESCRIPTION
08/06/2024	Pain in left breast radiate to left axilla persists Giddiness reduced Lower backache persists Generalised weakness slightly reduced Sleep – disturbed persists, Appetite – diminished persist	Carcinosinum 1M 1dose Placebo TID
12/06/2024	Underwent Chemotherapy c/o Nausea , Vomiting Irritable to light, noise Pain in left breast radiate to left axilla persist Lower backache persists Generalised weakness increased Sleep disturbed, Appetite diminished	Nux vomica 0/1 water dose FP 6X 2-2-2
03/07/2024	2ND Chemotherapy , c/o Nausea , Vomiting Irritable to light, noise pain in left breast radiate to left axilla slightly better Lower backache persist Generalised weakness better Sleep disturbed persist, Appetite improved,Thirst less	Nux vomica 0/1 Water dose FP 6X 2-2-2
27/07/2024	3rd chemotherapy , c/o Nausea , Vomiting Irritable to light, noise pain in left breast radiate to left axilla slightly better Lower backache persist Generalised weakness better Sleep improved , Appetite improved, Thirst- Improved	Nux vomica 0/1 water dose placebo
21/08/2024	4th chemotherapy, c/o Nausea , Vomiting Irritable to light, noise pain in left breast radiate to left axilla slightly better Lower backache persist Generalised weakness better Generals are improved	Nux vomica 0/1 water dose
05/09/2024	Underwent Left Mastectomy C/O- Fever 102.2’F  with chills , thirsty, Profuse sweat with  malaise Generalised weakness Pain and inflammation over operated region Lower backache	Arnica 200 OD/3Days   Pyrogenium 200 TID/ 3Days FP6X 2-2-2
21/11/2024	Underwent radiation therapy , Generalised weakness Pain, dryness of skin and intense  itching , Nausea and vomiting	Radium bromatum 200 TID/2Days FP6X 2-2-2

DISCUSSION:
This case report describes the palliative management of Breast Cancer in a 52-year-old Female using sector totality of homoeopathic treatment. The patient presented with Lump in left breast associated with generalized weakness, Lower back ache and Giddiness. Through a detailed discussion and evaluation, a homeopathic treatment is selected based on the patient’s specific symptoms, The results of this case contribute to the growing body of evidence showing the palliative management in homoeopathic treatment of Breast Cancer. Several factors may have contributed to the observed improvements in the patient’s symptoms. Firstly, homoeopathic sector approach to patient care, considering physical aspects of health. The selection of an homoeopathic palliative remedy based on the patient’s symptom presentation, aiming to stimulate the body’s innate healing response. Further studies, including clinical trials designed with large sample sizes and complex procedures, are needed to clarify the mechanisms of action of homeopathic remedies indicated in the management of Breast Cancer.

Hahnemann says all curable disease make themselves known to the intelligent physician in signs and symptoms Pathological conditions as also the patient are incurable when there are no signs and symptoms. In proportion as the pathology progress signs and symptoms decreases. This is true in cancer cases. In terminal cancer cases there are paucity of symptoms and even if there is any that are mainly the common symptoms or pathological symptoms.

Dr.Kent in his lesser writings discuss why is cancer incurable. He tells that in most cases there is paucity of symptoms, and there is nothing discoverable but the malignant growth and its associated features of hardness, stinging pain ulceration, enlarged glands and the tendency to involve the surrounding parts in its own development. If the child’s mental symptoms could be fully ascertained and the symptom from childhood to the adult age, something might be done Cancer generally comes on in later life, when childhood action has forgotten. If the symptoms that have appeared from birth to the present date are undiscovered, it is no wonder that cancer is incurable.

Dr.Stuart close says, the gross tissue changes, organic lesions, morphological disproportion and the physical effect of mechanical causes are not primarily with in the domain of similia and there for are not the object of homoeopathic treatment, the morbid process from which they arise, or to which they lead are amenable to homoeopathic medications. Homoeopathic   remedies by virtue of their power to control vital function and increase resistance often exercise a favourable influence upon the physical development as well as up on the tangible products of disease or accident .Thus the growth of the tumour may be retarded or arrested. So the condition like cancer with gross tissue changes we can’t expect a cure and the only thing a homoeopath can do is to palliate the suffering.

CONCLUSION:
This case report highlights the potential of palliative homoeopathic treatment as a safe and well-tolerated therapeutic option for breast cancer. Over a period of several weeks, the patient experienced a gradual improvement in giddiness, weakness and vomiting, with a notable reduction in weakness,  irritability, lower backache and malaise. Fifty millesimal scale potency for gentle and deeper action of remedy. Dissolving the dose in water and repeating it frequently with succession. Follow-up assessments demonstrated sustained relief and overall enhancement in the patient’s well-being. This case highlights the potential palliative effectiveness of homeopathic treatment in managing breast cancer.

REFERENCES:

1. Smolarz B, Nowak AZ, Romanowicz H. Breast Cancer—Epidemiology, Classification, Pathogenesis and Treatment (Review of Literature). Cancers [Internet]. 2022 May 23;14(10):2569. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9139759/
2. Hahnemann S. Organon of Medicine 5 and 6 Edition. B. Jain; 2013.
3. Close S. The Genius of Homeopathy. 1986.
4. Kent JT. Lectures on Homoeopathic Philosophy. 1900.
5. Synthesis repertory mobile application.

Dr.Chamundeshwari
PG scholar
Department of organon of medicine and philosophy
Government homoeopathic medical college and hospital, Bangalore – 560079
Email : bindubiradar814@gmail.com
Under Guidance of  Dr.Shrinidhi Hebbar .G.N MD (Hom.)
Assistant professor , Department of Organon