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The current situation in oncology
Dr. Probst: While oncologists in the media are full of reports about ever better treatment options for cancer, the epidemiological examination of the facts is much more sobering. Over a period of 40 years, there was no decisive change in survival rates for all tumor types except leukemia. On the contrary, the survival curves of recent years are the worst, although tumors are detected earlier and earlier by improved diagnostic options, and therefore patients should (apparently) live longer.
Disproportionate to the lack of success are the rapidly rising therapy costs for oncological treatments, which, according to a commercial health insurance company, have risen by 240% in the last five years. As convincing as the conventional medical therapy results are for certain forms of leukemia, testicular tumors and ovarian carcinomas, they are less effective for other solid carcinomas, which make up the majority of cancer diagnoses. In 2004, an Australian expert group analyzed all US and Australian oncological studies published between 1990 and 2004 and came to the conclusion that chemotherapy contributed only slightly more than 2% to the improvement in the five-year survival rate of cancer patients! And even this figure is doubtful, as it is based only on studies carried out by the pharmaceutical industry itself. The pressure exerted on patients to undergo chemotherapeutic treatment with its strong side effects and possible consequential damage seems more than questionable. Under no circumstances is it possible to maintain the conditions in which patients are treated according to the watering can principle and no rational consideration is given.
The chemotherapy of solid tumors undoubtedly has its significance in the palliative area in order to temporarily relieve patients of tumor-related symptoms such as pain or shortness of breath. Low-dose chemotherapies—for example, in combination with hyperthermia, curcumin and insulin—also seem to improve both the quality of life and the prognosis of patients.
The decisive error in cancer medicine is possibly the so-called mutation hypothesis, according to which cancer cells develop from ‘normal’ cells through several gene mutations. Therapies such as chemotherapy or radiation are based on this assumption. In Science the hypothesis is gaining increasing acceptance hat tumor cells develop from so-called tumor stem cells prevails. These form precursor cells, so-called progenitor cells, from which the actual tumor cells ultimately develop.
While the finished tumor cells divide very rapidly and are thus vulnerable to chemotherapy and radiation, the division rate of stem cells is extremely slow. The consequence is that they cannot be eliminated by usual treatments and thus form the starting point for tumor recurrences (the renewed growth of tumors). The stem cell hypothesis could explain the relatively unsuccessful oncological treatment strategy despite a variety of therapeutic approaches. Radical treatment probably has the opposite effect: in tumor tissue, due to the selection pressure of chemotherapy, an evolution takes place in rapid succession, with the result that more aggressive and resistant cells survive. In addition, immune cells that could control tumor growth are destroyed. In 2014, Schuppert and Stöcker were able to show in a study of breast cancer patients that the risk of metastasis increases by 70% in the chemotherapy group.
What would be desirable?
Dr. Probst: Biological cancer therapy within the framework of the MedicoNatura concept represents a sensible and important measure in the treatment of tumor patients. It would be desirable to integrate orthodox medical therapies and naturopathic treatments that can reduce side effects and improve the quality of life and prognosis of sick patients.
To this end, ideological blinkers must be removed on all sides, and therapeutic experience must also be appropriately appreciated. Research should be carried out independently and without the involvement of the pharmaceutical industry. The aim is to eliminate the constant distortion in so-called evidence-based medicine.
In paragraph 1 of the german Basic Law, human dignity is described as inviolable. This applies even more to the dignity of the sick person. Therefore, inhumane, side-effect-rich but useless therapies have to be removed from oncology without regard to profit. Empathy, cordiality and professional communication, on the other hand, must be the bases for dealing with the patient. Therapies should primarily be able to improve the quality of life and overall survival. The patient should of course be granted the right to decide for or against therapeutic measures after factual information—without pressure from the treating physicians.
"It would be desirable to integrate orthodoxmedical therapies and naturopathic treatmentsthat can reduce side effects and improve thequality of life and prognosis of sick patients."
R.P.
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