- With Mayo Clinic medical oncologist
Timothy Moynihan, M.D.
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Timothy Moynihan, M.D.
Timothy Moynihan, M.D.
"As a practicing medical oncologist, I meet with patients and families every day to help manage their course through this disease called cancer. This experience provides unique insight into the needs of cancer patients, their families and loved ones and brings into sharp focus the need for reliable information to be readily available in terms that can be easily understood." — Dr. Timothy Moynihan
Dr. Timothy Moynihan believes that providing consumers accurate, timely information on the broad, complex topic of cancer is the biggest challenge facing medical Web sites. As the guiding force behind our cancer coverage, he makes sure Mayo Clinic meets the test.
Dr. Moynihan, born in Las Vegas, N.M., but raised in Denver, is a consultant in medical oncology at Mayo Clinic and an associate professor at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. He is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hospice and palliative care medicine. He did his medical oncology training at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, and then went on to the University of Minnesota and St. Paul Regions Medical Center in St. Paul, Minn., for seven years before moving to Mayo Clinic in 1999. Dr. Moynihan is director of the palliative care program at Mayo Clinic and associate medical director of the Mayo Clinic hospice.
Dr. Moynihan currently serves as the education chair for the Department of Medical Oncology and fellowship program director. Four times he has been selected as Teacher of the Year in medical oncology and elected to the Teacher of the Year Hall of Fame. Past honors include distinguished clinical teacher at the University of Minnesota Medical School, best internist at the Medical College of Wisconsin and recipient of The Upjohn Achievement Award for Excellence in Medicine. He serves on several national committees for the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
"The Internet provides a ready source of information on a wide range of topics of interest to those affected by cancer," Dr. Moynihan says. "The difficulty is trying to decide which sites provide reputable information and which information is relevant to each individual patient. The long history and tradition of excellence associated with Mayo Clinic assures you that information provided will be reliable, up-to-date and comprehensive."
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- see all in Treatments and drugs
Alternative medicine (2)
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Prevention (1)
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Question
American ginseng: Can it relieve cancer fatigue?
Can American ginseng relieve fatigue in people with cancer?
Answer
from Timothy Moynihan, M.D.
Fatigue is common among people with cancer — before, during and after treatment. A 2007 pilot study at Mayo Clinic suggested that American ginseng may be an effective treatment for cancer-related fatigue.
For the study, the researchers followed 282 people with cancer for eight weeks. Some participants received 750 milligrams (mg) of American ginseng a day, some received 1,000 mg, some received 2,000 mg and some received an inactive substance (placebo). At the end of the study, the people who received the larger doses of ginseng had more energy. They also reported better mental, physical, spiritual and emotional well-being. Those who received the low dose or placebo had little or no improvement.
Although the results of this study are encouraging, researchers caution that the results are only preliminary. A larger trial is planned in 2008 to see if these results can be confirmed.
Also, keep in mind that herbal supplements are subject to only limited regulation. Before taking any herbal supplement, research the company and the product. And always check with your doctor first.
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