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Is turmeric a blood thinner?

Yes, turmeric is a blood thinner. Though the researchers had found no published reports of patients bleeding from taking turmeric, it could increase the risk, especially if paired with another anticoagulating drug. They concluded that patients should “avoid concomitant use.”

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Why Bleeding?

Now that the patient was stable, the issue on Bailey’s mind was why he bled in the first place. Sure, he was on a very effective blood thinner, but he’d been taking that for years without bleeding. He hadn’t fallen and hit his head. And none of the tests suggested he had an infection or a weakness in the blood vessels in the brain that would make bleeding more likely. Later that morning, the patient’s partner brought in all his medications and supplements. But there was one that was not on the list from the E.R.: turmeric. He started taking it earlier that week, he told the doctor. It’s from India — it’s completely natural.

Supplemental Information

Bailey, like most doctors, didn’t know much about supplements. And she didn’t know anything about turmeric, beyond the fact that it was a yellow spice sometimes used in curries. Could it have contributed in some way to his bleeding? It was his only new medication. She posed the question to her team on rounds. Stephen Rappaport, a young pharmacist who saw patients with the I.C.U. team, was immediately interested. He didn’t know much about turmeric either, but he would certainly look into it. As the team discussed other issues involved in this man’s care, Rappaport fired off an email to the University of Illinois at Chicago Drug Information Group, a subscription research service for pharmacists, asking about any effect turmeric might have on blood clotting. Their response came back a few hours later. Yes, turmeric is a blood thinner. Though the researchers had found no published reports of patients bleeding from taking turmeric, it could increase the risk, especially if paired with another anticoagulating drug. They concluded that patients should “avoid concomitant use.” In prescribing a medication like the blood thinner this patient was taking, doctors must weigh the benefit of reducing the blood’s ability to clot against the potential damage of unstoppable bleeding. For this patient, the math seemed straightforward. He’d already had a couple of strokes, and he was at high risk of having a third if nothing was done, so he was given the blood thinner. But this brain bleed made the doctors wonder if the math had now changed. The patient’s risk of having another stroke was quite high, but so was his risk of bleeding again — unless the turmeric had played a role. If that were the case, and it was a big if, then simply not taking the turmeric would be enough to balance the risk-benefit equation.

Spice of Life

Few published studies show how supplements act in the human body in controlled trials. Unlike drug makers, supplement makers are not required to test what their products actually do. Turmeric’s blood-thinning effect is not generally an issue when eaten, as it contains only a tiny amount of its anticoagulant ingredient, curcumin. A half-teaspoon of the turmeric on your spice shelf contains only 50 milligrams of curcumin. But the capsules of turmeric sold as a supplement are almost all curcumin. Each dose contains 1000-2000 mg. of the drug. Many sites on the internet that discuss turmeric mention this fact and suggest not combining it with medications or other supplements that have an anticoagulant effect, but this patient hadn’t seen the warning.

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Stage IV Prostate Cancer Prognosis Prostate cancers detected at the distant stage have an average five-year survival rate of 28 percent, which is much lower than local and regional cancers of the prostate.

In general, the earlier prostate cancer is caught, the more likely it is for a man to get successful treatment and remain disease-free. The overall prognosis for prostate cancer is among the best of all cancers. It’s important to keep in mind that survival rates and likelihood of recurrence are based on averages and won’t necessarily reflect any individual patient outcome. The prognosis for prostate cancer depends on many factors. Your doctor will offer insight and advice based on your specific disease.

High Cure Rates for Local and Regional Prostate Cancers

Approximately 80 percent to 85 percent of all prostate cancers are detected in the local or regional stages, which represent stages I, II and III. Many men diagnosed and treated at the local or regional stages will be disease-free after five years.

Stage IV Prostate Cancer Prognosis

Prostate cancers detected at the distant stage have an average five-year survival rate of 28 percent, which is much lower than local and regional cancers of the prostate. This average survival rate represents stage IV prostate cancers that have metastasized (spread) beyond nearby areas to lymph nodes, organs or bones in other parts of the body.

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