Complementary Oncology

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The complementary oncology deals with complementary medicine measures in addition to the usual, so the standard therapy of cancer treatment ( oncology ). Such measures are widely used to optimize standard therapies . Complementary oncology, which also includes preventive measures , is a sub-area of complementary medicine . Your measures have no independent influence on recurrence or metastasis-free times or survival times . However, they can reduce or prevent side effects and thus stabilize the quality of life .

Evidence-based complementary treatments in oncology

Nutritional therapy

Studies suggest that an unbalanced (excessive) diet can be the cause of various types of cancer . Changes in diet or diet-related habits could reduce the incidence of cancer by around 30 percent. The nutritional advice or optimization , for example, according to the guidelines of the German Society for Nutrition (DGE), is therefore regarded as useful preventive measure. The nutritional medical care of cancer patients is a central component of holistic therapy concepts , since adequate nutrition in the course of cancer is considered to be an essential prerequisite for maintaining the general condition and quality of life. In addition, the nutritional status of patients has a significant influence on a large number of clinical characteristics, including feeling of illness , tolerance and adherence to therapy , rate of side effects and willingness to take defense. Even if nutritional medical care alone cannot cure or influence tumor growth in cancer patients , a deterioration in the nutritional status and the resulting clinical consequences can be significantly influenced if used in good time and appropriately. Recommendations for nutritional therapy are contained in S3 guidelines .

Exercise therapy

A lack of exercise is seen as a serious problem in terms of health policy and economics and is jointly responsible for various types of cancer. The prophylactic value of exercise therapy has been scientifically proven for defined cancers. Controlled clinical studies on the value of exercise therapy in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy were considered promising. For example, the fatigue syndrome was reduced and the quality of life stabilized. Recommendations for exercise therapy are contained in S3 guidelines.

Psycho-oncological therapy

Psycho-oncology is the professional support and treatment of psychological complaints during and after cancer. It has been shown: In the course of diagnosis and therapy , many cancer patients suffer from a variety of psychological stresses. The aim of psycho-oncological treatment is to enable those affected to participate in professional and social life. It should be guaranteed for all cancer patients, especially as patient-oriented support during the entire course of treatment. The inclusion of psycho-oncological treatment is considered indicated if the patient expresses the desire for accompaniment or if physical or psychological disorders have occurred in the context of cancer. It is recommended that psycho-oncological treatment be started as soon as possible after the diagnosis is made, but if necessary also after all therapeutic measures have been completed.

Orthomolecular Therapy

The orthomolecular therapy, essentially the therapy with vitamins and trace elements , is also a complementary oncological treatment. Micronutrients (vitamins, trace elements, secondary plant substances ) are involved in the prevention of cancer in many ways. A dose of essential micronutrients adapted to the living conditions or the illness to compensate for deficiencies has proven to be useful in controlled studies. To meet the needs, e.g. B. during chemotherapy or radiation therapy or with reduced food intake, balanced vitamin and trace element mixtures are particularly suitable. These preparations cover the daily requirement of essential vitamins and trace elements when taken in the recommended dosage. The need-based administration of balanced vitamin or trace element mixtures to prevent deficiencies can be useful as a complementary measure in defined disease or therapeutic phases of cancer. Prevention of cancer is not possible by substituting vitamin and trace element mixtures, so it is not recommended.

Vitamin D therapy

Vitamin D is formed in the skin when it is exposed to sunlight or it is absorbed through food and stored in muscles and adipose tissue . The main task of vitamin D is to regulate the calcium balance, that is, it is necessary for its incorporation into bones and thus for their stability. Vitamin D deficiency and its sequelae (in particular osteoporosis and joint or muscle problems of various degrees of severity) can occur when there is no sunlight, an unbalanced diet or hormone withdrawal , e.g. B. in old age ( menopause ) as well as in the wake of medicinal measures (anti- hormone therapy ), especially in the case of breast or prostate cancer . Studies have shown that optimal vitamin D and calcium blood levels protect against osteoporosis, and the likelihood of developing colon cancer is significantly reduced.

Selenium therapy

Selenium is an essential trace element. According textbook recommendations the selenium concentration in the blood (should be the serum / plasma ) 120 to 140 mcg / L , respectively. According to the study situation, 120 mcg / L cause an optimum for the effectiveness of selenium-containing enzymes ( selenoprotein P ). 140 mcg / L are clinically relevant in terms of cancer prevention and reduction in mortality . The cancer preventive effect has been demonstrated in clinical studies. Proven selenium deficiency should be compensated for by giving selenium for the specific indication . Experimental, preclinical and clinical data also show that selenium can improve the tolerance of chemotherapy and radiation therapies. The Working Group on Prevention and Integrative Oncology (PRiO) of the German Cancer Society emphasized

  • the tolerance of oncological therapies with higher selenium levels in the blood is significantly better,
  • Selenium deficiency should be compensated,
  • Inorganic selenium preparations (e.g. sodium selenite ) are preferable because overdoses are excluded.

Enzyme therapy

For defined plant enzymes (for example bromelain from pineapple , papain from papaya ) or enzyme mixtures, experimental effects have been demonstrated, including immunological , anti-infectious , anti-inflammatory , anti-tumor and anti- metastatic activities. Clinical studies are also available for standardized enzyme mixtures that document the influence of the therapy on the immunity situation and quality of life (including a reduction in the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy). There are cohort studies on the complementary administration of a standardized herbal enzyme mixture accompanying chemotherapy or radiation therapy , which demonstrate the safety and effectiveness (reduction of side effects of standard oncological therapy ) in breast , colorectal cancer and plasmocytoma .

Selenium Enzyme Lentil Extract Therapy

In the case of complex medications, the individual components should be coordinated in such a way that their effect or effectiveness is ideally optimized. The combination of active substances (selenium, plant enzymes, lentil extract containing lectin ) has proven to be effective in clinical studies in reducing the side effects of standard therapies for breast and prostate cancer. Breast cancer patients received anti-hormonal treatment in accordance with international recommendations and received a complementary combination of selenium, plant enzymes and lectin-containing lens extract. Side effects of anti-hormone therapy (including joint pain and dryness of the mucous membranes ) were recorded in test sheets . The data were evaluated before and after complementary therapy to anti-hormone therapy. The severity of the side effects examined, such as joint pain and dryness of the mucous membranes, improved statistically significantly . The administration of a selenium-enzyme-lens lectin mixture is recommended in the guideline of the Working Group on Gynecological Oncology (AGO) of the German Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics to reduce joint problems during anti-hormone therapy. During their hormone-ablative therapy, prostate cancer patients received complementary treatment with lens extract containing selenium-enzyme lectin. At the beginning of therapy, they suffered from severe side effects, including dryness of the mucous membranes, joint and bone pain and hot flashes . The extent of these side effects of the hormone-ablative therapy could be significantly reduced by administration of the complementary medical selenium enzyme lens extract.

Insufficiently tested complementary treatment methods

Mistletoe therapy

A mistletoe extract therapy using standardized extracts of anthroposophic treatment direction or phytotherapeutic (mistletoe lectin I / ML-I standard) extracts. Clinical studies have shown, depending on the type and stage of cancer, reductions in side effects of standard cancer therapy, an associated increase in quality of life and a normalization or activation of immune functions under standardized mistletoe extract therapy. However, all studies show methodological deficiencies and the results are not considered to be reliable. The complementary mistletoe extract therapy has so far only proven to be effective in clinical studies for improving the quality of life in the palliative therapy of malignant tumors. For all other indications there are not yet any studies that prove their safety or efficacy.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Far Eastern healing practices (e.g. acupuncture , acupressure , special nutrition , herbal medicine as well as relaxation and massage techniques ) have found their way into western therapy concepts under the term TCM . The theories of TCM differ greatly from western, science-based diagnostic and therapeutic principles. According to the doctrine, TCM treatments should harmonize the disturbed flow of life energy ( Chi ), lead to a strengthening of the inner balance and a higher quality of life and strengthen the immune system. Controlled clinical studies that meet Western quality standards are not available for the diagnostic and therapeutic measures of TCM.

Outsider Treatment Methods

Doctors expressly warn against diagnostic and therapeutic procedures that have not been tested for quality, safety and effectiveness and which are sometimes incorrectly associated with complementary medicine. The procedures are aggressively advertised and often pretend that

  • if early detection is possible,
  • Cancer growth and tumor mass are reduced,
  • Recurrence and metastasis are prevented,
  • the need for chemotherapy or radiation therapy is delayed,
  • the effectiveness of chemotherapy or radiation therapy is increased,
  • the treatment is effective even after all other treatments have failed.

Critical objections

The use of complementary medical procedures can be associated with specific, therapy-dependent side effects as well as general health risks for patients. Delayed administration or the rejection of standard curative therapies is considered to be the greatest general risk of non-indicated or incorrect use of complementary therapies. In these cases, complementary medicine is misunderstood as "alternative medicine", which in oncology has so far not been able to demonstrate any scientifically-based, patient-relevant therapeutic effects. Nonspecific complementary medical immunotherapies (e.g. mistletoe, thymus , ozone therapy ) can lead to the release of growth factors, which in particular can also stimulate cancer cells to grow. In addition to the risk of delayed or inadequate use of proven cancer therapies, which is often associated with cancer growth and metastasis, a decline in quality of life and survival time, as well as psychological impairment, inappropriately high financial burdens are the rule.

literature

Individual evidence

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