Q. I have recently finished six months of treatment for breast cancer, including mastectomy, chemotherapy and 33 radiation treatments. I had been taking DHEA after reading that it was like a natural fountain of youth. Now I feel that this must have had something to do with my breast cancer.
There is a lot of breast cancer in my family, but all six of my aunts were postmenopausal when they got it. I was pre-menopausal.
I now know that the body turns DHEA into estrogen and testosterone, and it bothers me that it could be on the market without a warning on the label. Should I report this to someone? There's no proof that it caused my cancer, but it does seem suspicious.
A. We are sorry to hear of your ordeal, and we share your concern about DHEA. This compound has been hyped as a sexual enhancer and anti-aging hormone. It is a precursor to both male and female hormones. Research is accumulating that high levels of both kinds of hormone may increase the risk of breast cancer (Annals of Internal Medicine, Feb. 16, 1999). Anyone with a family history like yours should probably be wary of such hormones and DHEA.
Please report your experience to the Food and Drug Administration at 800-332-1088, or www.fda. gov/medwatch.
Q. During the past few years I have taken first Zocor and later Lipitor. Both times I experienced moderate to severe muscle pain, which went away after I stopped the medicine. In both cases my doctor did not believe that the medication was the cause, so I took myself off.
My cholesterol level went down when I took these drugs and back up once I was off. Three months ago I started taking Cholestin on my own initiative. I have recently started experiencing minor muscle pain. Is the lovastatin in Cholestin the same drug in Zocor and Lipitor? Is this the likely cause of the muscle pain?
A. Cholestin is made from Chinese red yeast rice. It contains lovastatin, the same ingredient in the cholesterol-lowering drug Mevacor. Zocor (simvastatin) and Lipitor (atorvastatin) are related compounds.
All of the "statins" have the potential to cause muscle-tissue breakdown, signaled by pain and tenderness. This is a very serious reaction, and we would suggest that you discontinue the Cholestin. Even though it is a natural product, it could have side effects. You may be more susceptible than most to this complication.
Q. I started taking saw palmetto pills last year because my doctor said they could ease my prostate symptoms. At first they worked great, but lately I don't seem to be getting the same benefit. I changed brands a few months back and now wonder if the new one has the same potency. How can a consumer know?
A. This is a huge dilemma. Without any oversight, herb manufacturers can pretty much do whatever they please. Potency labels on some brands are accurate, but other products may not be reliable.
According to the American Botanical Council, an independent clearinghouse for herbal information, ProstActive is a brand that conforms to rigorous German standards.
King Features Syndicate