Integration of Ayurvedic and Allopathic treatment in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer patient with Germline BRCA1 mutation for long term disease free survival: A case report

Abstract

Ovarian cancer patients with BRCA1 mutation have more susceptibility for secondary breast cancer. In females with BRCA1 mutation, the risk of developing breast carcinoma is 65% and of ovarian cancer is 39%, before 70 years of age.This is a case report of a 74 year old, post-menopausal woman diagnosed with metastatic retroperitoneal lymph node, high-grade papillary adenocarcinoma primary ovary stage IIIA in April 2004 at the age of 48 years. She underwent 3 cycles of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy Inj. Methotrexate and Inj. Carboplatin from June to August 2004 followed by optimum cytoreduction in September 2004. Later she completed 3 more cycles of chemotherapy of the same protocol from October to November 2004. Tab Etoposide was given from December 2004 to October 2006. In May 2006, during oral chemotherapy and with unremarkable radiological findings, the patient chose Ayurvedic treatment in view of immune boosting, and improving quality of life. The patient underwent 11 sets of Panchakarma treatment, almost every year, from December 2007 to September 2019. She was disease-free for 13 years leading a good quality of life with adjunct Ayurvedic treatment.In October 2019, she was diagnosed with Left breast duct carcinoma with ER, PR hormone positive status. Her genetic mutation analysis report at that time revealed BRCA 1 mutation. She underwent Left Modified Radical Mastectomy in October 2019, followed by prophylactic Right Breast Mastectomy and oral hormonal therapy. Now she is living with better quality of life with adjunct Ayurvedic treatment, including Oral Ayurvedic Medicines possessing Rasayana (immunomodulatory) and hepato-protective activity and 12 sets of Panchakarma Chikitsa.In this case of Stage IIIA Ovarian carcinoma and second primary Breast carcinoma with BRCA 1 genetic mutation (HBOC syndrome), a long-term 13 years of disease-free survival, and 20 years of overall survival is achieved with the integration of Ayurvedic treatment and conventional cancer treatment.

Keywords

• Ayurveda
• BRCA1 mutation
• HBOC syndrome
• Integrated treatment
• Long term survival
• Panchakarma treatment