Integrating Complimentary and Alternative Medicine in Form of Active Hexose Co-Related Compound (AHCC) in the Management of Head & Neck Cancer Patients

Objectives: The Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC), is produced from mushroom mycerium and rich in alpha glucans was administered to the cancer patients along with chemotherapy to see if it is having any beneficial effects on the final outcome in terms of reducing side effects of chemotherapy, maintaining the general condition and having effect on tumor control. Methods: Twenty five patients were administered AHCC along with conventional palliative chemotherapy regimen out of which sixteen patients received paclitaxel, and cisplatinum/carboplatin, nine patients received combination of cisplatim and 5-Flurouracil. All the patients were having advance stage (T3/T4) head and neck cancers. Thirteen patients were cancer of cheek, followed by cancer of tongue (4), oro-pharyngeal cancer (6) and cancer of naso-pharynx (2). Results: All the patients tolerated AHCC well with no added symptoms. Twenty patients reported that they are feeling stronger than before at the time of initiation of chemotherapy cycles. Almost all the patients reported to have better appetite after they started taking AHCC. Twelve patients who required blood transfusion before chemotherapy cycles, decrease in the rate of fall in hemoglobin was observed in these patients and only three patients required blood transfusion before subsequent chemotherapy cycles. In 22 patients definite reduction of chemotherapy side effects like nausea, vomiting, drop in total leucocytes count, loose motion/constipation etc. were observed, which reduced the hospital stay of these patients. Tumor regressed in 11 patients, 8 patients had stable disease and in rest of the patients, the disease progressed. Conclusions: AHCC up to 3 g is safe to administer and definitely helps cancer patients in reducing side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs, getting a sense of wellbeing and improved intake maintains general condition as well as prepare them to continue and tolerate further cycles in a better way.