What are Off-label treatments?
This category of treatment represents a beacon of hope and innovation in the realm of cancer care. These treatments involve the use of FDA-approved medications for conditions other than breast cancer, unlocking new avenues of therapy based on the latest research, clinical evidence, and the invaluable experience and judgement of dedicated doctors.Why would I want to explore these treatments?
This legal and accepted practice empowers physicians to think beyond conventional protocols, offering patients cutting-edge solutions that may prove highly effective for you. By understanding and exploring these off-label treatments, patients can gain access to innovative approaches that might just make a transformative difference in their breast cancer healing and recovery.
Many FDA-approved medications and procedures can treat more than one condition. Any licensed physician can legally prescribe any FDA approved medication for any condition they believe it is appropriate for: a practice known as “off-label” treatment. Embrace the possibilities and discuss off-label options with your doctors for a tailored approach to your breast cancer treatment.
If off-label drugs are so effective why are they not routinely prescribed to breast cancer patients for control and cure of their breast cancer?
THERE IS NO MONEY IN THE CURE FOR (BREAST) CANCER
However: There is A LOT OF MONEY in the current standard of care treatments & their side effects: traditional breast cancer surgery chemo, radiation, hormone suppressing drugs, lymphedema treatments. They ALL cause horrific side effects that cause more medical issues that require more drugs & more treatments to manage those additional medical problems they created – and around and around we go in the US insurance world of money, at the breast cancer patient’s expense!
BCA recommendation: DO NOT COMPLY
Do Consult open-minded Integrative Medicine/Functional Medicine/Naturopathic Doctors who are seeking to provide women the most effective non-toxic breast cancer treatments available today.
Off-Label Categories of Treatments
- Surgical Options
- Prescription Medications
- OTC Supplements
- Localized Treatments
Off-Label Surgical Option for Breast Cancer
What is Cryoablation?
Cryoablation: is a FDA Approved minimally invasive treatment that uses extreme cold to destroy cancer cells that can replace surgical lumpectomy for women with early stage breast cancer. During the procedure, a thin probe called a cryoprobe is inserted into the tumor under imaging guidance. The cryoprobe then creates an ice ball around the target tissue, freezing and killing the cancer cells.
Procedure
- Preparation: The patient is given local anesthesia.
- Insertion: A cryoprobe is inserted into the tumor using imaging guidance (like ultrasound or MRI).
- Freezing: The cryoprobe releases extremely cold gas, creating an ice ball around the tumor.
- Thawing: The ice ball is allowed to thaw, and then the freezing process is repeated to ensure all cancer cells are destroyed.
- Post-Procedure: The patient can usually go home the same day.
Benefits
- Minimally Invasive: No large incisions are needed.
- Faster Recovery: Patients often recover quickly and can resume normal activities soon after.
- Cosmetic Outcomes: Maintains the shape and appearance of the breast.
- Cost-Effective: Generally less expensive than traditional surgery.
- Outpatient Procedure: Can be done in an office setting without the need for hospitalization.
Side Effects
- Localized Pain: Some patients may experience pain at the treatment site.
- Swelling: Temporary swelling is common.
- Skin Changes: Possible skin injury or changes in skin sensation.
- Infection: Rare, but possible.
- Nerve Damage: There is a risk of nerve damage, leading to loss of sensation.
Success Rate
Cryoablation long term data has shows very effective treatment results for early-stage breast cancer and that it inhibits recurrence. The ICE3 trial showed a 5-year local recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate of 96.39% in patients with early-stage breast cancer. This means that 96.39% of patients treated with cryoablation did not experience a recurrence of the cancer in the treated breast over a 5-year period. Cryoablation can also eliminate the need for radiation treatment in patients.
Drawbacks of Cryoablation:
It is not usually covered by insurance – as of February 2025. However, this could be changing soon. The average cost of cryoablation is $8000. Most cryoablation surgeons will accept medical financing for the treatment.
Cryoablation, despite having a successful track record of over 20 years, is still labeled (incorrectly) a “new and emerging” treatment. BCA believes this is just another stall tactic to keep the “cash cow” of breast cancer going. Twenty years of success hardly seems “new & emerging”!
FDA & Medicare Control Insurance Approvals
The FDA and Medicare determine approved medications and procedures, as well as payment guidelines for all insurance companies in the US. This is one way the US federal government controls the current “sickcare model.” The FDA could approve Cryoablation for early-stage breast cancer if desired, but there is little financial incentive in curing breast cancer compared to treatments that cause further illness, requiring more treatments that all add up to billions of breast cancer health care dollars each year.
BCA believes this early-stage Breast Cancer Treatment is the best treatment available to women in 2025.
(tiny bow) Considering the side effects associated with traditional lumpectomy surgery, the potential for plastic surgery reconstruction required afterwards, and the need for radiation therapy following it, BCA bly recommends that all women with early-stage breast cancer consult a qualified cryoablation surgeon before deciding on other surgical options. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Read Christie E. personal story (interlink to her story on Survive & Thrive)
Cryoablation Surgeons & Centers
Dr. Dennis Hollmes
Dr. female on the east coast
Dr. Bednarski at Serenity Surgery: Dr. Bednarski is a Board Certified General Surgeon with a Fellowship in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery, performing cryoablation since 2014.
Mayo Clinic: Mayo Clinic has experienced surgeons and interventional radiologists who perform cryoablation for breast cancer at their campuses in Arizona, Florida, and Minnesota.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK): MSK offers cryoablation therapy for breast cancer and has experts like Dr. Yolanda Bryce, who founded their cryoablation program
Prescription Medications
BCA has provided a list of the most common off-label medications used for breast cancer to discuss with your doctors. These drugs have published science based research linked to effective non-toxic breast cancer treatment. Take that information with you to discuss with your doctors.
This list is by no means a comprehensive list, but is here to help you get started in a discussion with your doctor, especially if you are new to this type of thinking.
Anti-Paracitic studies show evidence that certain antiparasitic drugs, like ivermectin and mebendazole, can act as potential anticancer agents by inhibiting cancer cell growth, inducing apoptosis, and even reversing drug resistance in cancer cells. They were commonly prescribed for cancer the 1980’s. Most have mild and few side effects. There are many, below are the most well known:
- Niclosamide: Used for parasitic infections, it has demonstrated anti-cancer properties in preclinical studies.
- Fenbendazole: An anti-parasitic medication that has shown potential in killing cancer cells. This is both prescription and OTC.
This is part of Roxann’s personal cancer protocol. - Disulfiram: Used to treat chronic alcoholism, it has shown anti-cancer effects in some studies.
- Ivermectin: Research indicates that ivermectin can inhibit cancer cell growth, proliferation, and metastasis. This is both prescription and OTC.
This is part of Roxann’s personal cancer protocol.
Opioid Antagonists are a special category of medications that are getting a lot of attention as anti cancer agents. They are scientifically proven to slow the progression of cancer or eradicate it all together vs opioids (pain medications often given to cancer patients after cancer surgery) that actually spur the growth of breast cancer.
BCA recommendation: as a breast cancer patient do not take opioid pain killers, ever. There are many other non-opioid pain medication options after breast cancer surgery that will not cause cancer proliferation.
- Naloxone: Often used to reverse opioid overdoses, it can also help manage pain in cancer patients.
- Low Dose Naltrexone: Used off-label together with Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) shows real effectiveness in reducing tumor burden (breast cancer cell growth).
This is part of Roxann’s personal cancer protocol. In 90 days she had significant results with this medication and continues to have significant results today, documented in Roxann’s Journey.
Other Medications
- Hydroxychloroquine: Commonly used for malaria and autoimmune diseases, it is in
- Metformin: Originally used for diabetes, it has shown promise in reducing breast cancer recurrence in ER+ breast cancers because it targets the same pathways as estrogen suppressors.
Compounded Medications
A compounded drug is a customized medication specifically prepared by a pharmacist to meet the unique needs of an individual patient (you). Unlike commercially manufactured drugs, which are produced in large quantities and standardized for the general population, compounded drugs are tailored to specific requirements. Here are some reasons why your doctor might prescribe a compounded drug:- Allergies or Sensitivities/Avoiding Additives: If you’re allergic to an ingredient in a commercially available medication or want to avoid certain additives, a compounded drug can be made without that ingredient.
- Dosage Adjustments: Compounded drugs can be customized to provide the exact dosage needed, which is especially useful for breast cancer patients who require specific strengths.
- Alternative Forms: If you have difficulty swallowing pills, a compounded medication can be made in a liquid, gel, or other form that’s exactly right for you.
- Combination of Medications: If you need to take multiple medications, a compounded drug can combine some medications into a single dosage form to simplify your regimen.
- Unavailability: Sometimes, certain medications are not available commercially in the strength you need. A compounded drug can be created to meet your specific dose needs.
- Low Dose Naltrexone is a compounded drug for breast cancer.
- Testosterone is a little used off-label treatment for breast cancer that has been used since the 1930’s. Hormones require a very knowledgeable Pharmacist with specialized training that works with your prescribing doctor.
- Hormones and Breast Cancer
DMSO (Dimethyl Sulfoxide)
Thia a multi-use organosulfur compound found in trees, with the formula (CH₃)₂SO. It is a colorless liquid that transports soil nutrients through the fibrous interior of the tree to the leaves and keeps the tree from freezing in extremely cold weather! This sulfoxide is widely used commercially as a solvent, and is also widely used in medicine, for tissue preservation and wound healing. It is used In the pharmaceutical industry because it serves as a transport substance for topical medications due to its ability to penetrate the skin and other tissues. It is also a known anti-cancer agent. DMSO can also be taken orally.
DMSO was discovered in the 1960s by Stanley jacob MD and is a very interesting read. It got a bad reputation from the FDA & medical industry because it is a very effective organic substance that promotes healing of all types of diseases in the human body, including cancer – and cannot be patented so there is no money in it for big pharma.
BCA believes Pharmaceutical Grade DMSO (amazon affiliate link) may well be one of nature’s miracles! It is very effective OVER THE COUNTER anti cancer compound as an with little to no side effects at low doses. This natural substance is a crucial part of Roxann’s personal cancer protocol. Roxann started oral DMSO, 7ml in 200ml of RO water, on June 18, 2024. To date she has no known side effects.
- Interstitial Cystitis – FDA approved treatment
- Pain Relief
- Shingles
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Wound Healing
- Scleroderma
- Headaches
- Eye Problems
- Scars
- Stroke
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Cancer – this includes Roxann’s Breast Cancer
- Inflammatory Disorders
- Urinary Conditions
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Dupuytren’s Contracture
- Postoperative Pain Syndromes
- there are just the most common, there are more ….
DMSO Books
Over-The-Counter (OTC) Supplements
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A list of the most common (OTC) supplements that have scientific evidence supporting their use in treating cancer to varying degrees. This list is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. BCA recommends consulting your physician before taking any supplements.
Here are the top 15 supplements we can find that are PROVEN to help in the treatment of breast cancer. Roxann’s personal supplements are in pink text:
- Vitamin K2 + D3
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- CurcuminG
- Alpha LIpoic Acid
- DMSO
- Green Tea Extract (EGCG)
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Selenium
- Omega-3
- Probiotics
- Resveratrol
- Quercetin
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B17
- CoQ10
Here are the next group of supplements proven to help in the treatment of breast cancer:
- Chlorella
- Melatonin
- Ashwagandha
- American Ginseng
- Milk Thistle
- Astragalus
- Cat’s Claw
- Mushroom Extract (Reishi)
- Mushroom Extract
(Shiitake) - Folate (Folic Acid)
- Black Seed Oil
- Lycopene
- Moringa
- Berberine
- N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)
- Glutathione
- Holy Basil
- Ginkgo Biloba
- Cranberry Extract
- Bee Propolis
Obviously you can’t take all of these. Roxann chose the top 15 for breast cancer that do not upset her GI tract (your gut microbe is key to your healing) along, with what her Integrative Doctors recommended.All a
Localized Treatments
The Localized treatments in standard of care are radiation and hyperthermia
RedLight Therapy
Red light therapy, also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation (PBM), uses low-level red or near-infrared light to stimulate cellular activity. The light penetrates the skin and is absorbed by the mitochondria in cells, which boosts energy production and promotes healing.. This process can help reduce inflammation, enhance collagen production, and improve skin rejuvenation.
It is perfectly safe to do at home or in a salon.
Recommended Dosing
The dosing for red light therapy can vary depending on the device and the condition being treated. Generally, it involves:
- Power Density: Typically ranges from Red light therapy typically uses wavelengths in the visible red spectrum (around 600-700 nm) and the near-infrared spectrum (around 700-1000 nm).600-700 nm: Penetrates up to about 8-10 millimeters, reaching the dermal layer of the skin.700-1000 nm: Penetrates deeper, up to 25 millimeters, potentially affecting muscle, bone, and deeper tissues
- Duration: Sessions can last from a few minutes to around 20 minutes, depending on the device and the area being treated.
- Frequency: Usually, treatments are done 3-5 times per week.
Obviously you can’t take all of these. Roxann chose the top 15 for breast cancer and adjusted according to what does not upset her GI tract (your gut microbe is key to your healing) along with what her Integrative Doctors recommended.
- Side Effects
Red light therapy is generally considered safe, but some users might experience mild side effects such as:
- Skin Irritation: Redness or irritation at the treatment site.
- Eye Sensitivity: Avoiding direct exposure to the eyes.
- Temporary Discomfort: Some users might feel a slight warming sensation.
Post-Surgery Use
Red light therapy can be used post-surgery, but it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider before starting treatment. Generally, it’s recommended to wait until the initial healing phase is complete, which can be around 2-4 weeks, depending on the type of surgery.
- test
Success Rate
The success rate of red light therapy varies depending on the condition being treated. For skin rejuvenation and pain management users report positive results.
Suggested Reading
These authors, of various professional backgrounds, have a lot of very helpful science backed information in the use of Off-Label drugs and other treatments for cancer in general and some for breast cancer specifically. Always cross check information with reliable sources and your doctors before implementing any information you obtain from our suggested reading list.
Books
Newsletters
PhotoDynamic Therapy (PDT)
How PDT Works
Photosensitizer Absorption: A drug is administered by mouth, injection, or applied to the skin, where it selectively accumulates in cancer cells.
Activation by Light: After a waiting period (typically 24–72 hours), the affected area is exposed to laser or LED light.
Oxygen Radical Formation:The photosensitizer reacts with the light, producing highly reactive oxygen molecules that damage and kill cancer cells.
Blood Vessel Disruption: PDT can also destroy tumor blood vessels, cutting off the cancer’s nutrient supply.
Immune System Activation: The treatment may stimulate the immune system to attack remaining cancer cells.
Advantages of PDT
- Minimally Invasive: No surgical removal of tissue.
- Targeted treatment: Reduces damage to healthy cells.
- Repeatable: Can be used multiple times if needed.
PDT is commonly used for skin cancers, esophageal cancer, and lung cancer, but research is expanding its applications.
How PDT Works for Breast Cancer
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is being explored as a treatment for localized tumors and metastatic lesions. While PDT is not yet a standard treatment for breast cancer, research suggests it could be effective in targeting cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
Photosensitizer Absorption: A light-sensitive drug accumulates in breast cancer cells.
Light Activation: A specific wavelength of light is applied to the tumor, triggering a reaction.
Oxygen Radical Formation: The activated drug produces highly reactive oxygen molecules, which destroy breast cancer cells.
Tumor Blood Vessel Disruption: PDT can cut off the tumor’s blood supply, starving it of nutrients.
Immune System Activation: The treatment may stimulate the immune system to attack remaining cancer cells.
Recent Advances
Researchers are developing new photosensitizing agents that improve PDT’s effectiveness for breast cancer. A study from UC Riverside and Michigan State University introduced cyanine-carborane salts, which target cancer cells more precisely while reducing side effects.
Challenges & Limitations
Limited Tissue Penetration: Light does not penetrate deeply, making PDT more suitable for surface-level tumors.
Sensitivity to Light: Patients may experience temporary light sensitivity after treatment.
Not Yet Standard for Breast Cancer – PDT is FDA-approved for skin and lung cancers, but its use in breast cancer is still under investigation. However, if PDT is suitable for lung cancer tumors inside the body, why can’t that same reasoning be applied to internal breast cancer tumors?
References
- Cancer Care, Dr. Paul Marik
- DMSO Nature’s Healer, Dr. Morton Walker
- DMSO in Trauma and Disease
- Pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, The Rationality of Implementation of Dimethyl Sulfoxide as Differentiation-inducing Agent in Cancer Therapy
- SciTech Daily, Vitamin D Supplements Reduce Risk of Developing Advanced Cancer
- Dr. Mercola, 2025 Butyrate’s effect on your immune system
- Frontiers, Metformin Induces PRODH/POX-Dependent Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Cells
- Harvard Health, Reviews studies that aspirin lowers breast cancer risk and highlights its potential anti-tumor properties, including inhibiting tumor cell division and impairing precancerous cell growth.
- City of Hope, Ivermectin & a checkpoint inhibitor successfully treated TNBC in preclinical studies.
- Cleveland Clinic, Reviews red light therapy’s benefits, side effects, and uses, discussing its role in skin rejuvenation, wound healing, and inflammation reduction.
- UC Riverside, 2025 PDT for breast cancer