Public health and WHOChemotherapy—what do doctors and alternative herbalists say about it?
Sources: 12 · Article: 18 764 characters
Jerzy Zięba and Hubert Czerniak question the effectiveness of chemotherapy, and Hubert Czerniak believes that the fight against cancer should not be based on it.
- Jerzy Zięba cites one analysis indicating an average effectiveness of less than 3%, and another according to which chemotherapy extends life by an average of 2 months.
- Hubert Czerniak cites a 2.1% increase in the chance of surviving five years and lists cancers for which chemotherapy is said to be ineffective.
- Henryk Różański lists herbs and preparations as additions to chemotherapy, as well as remedies for some related ailments.
- Hubert Czerniak recommends bacterial culture preparations as an aid during chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
What the authors write
Jerzy Zięba
Analyses cited by Jerzy Zięba indicate that chemotherapy was effective in an average of less than 3% of cases.
„Scientific analyses of the effectiveness of chemotherapy cited in my book indicate that it was effective in an AVERAGE of less than 3% of cases. In other words, on average, chemotherapy did NOT contribute to five-year survival in 97% of cases. So what is the truth? A serious publication—which is, after all, entirely scientific—indicates that the cure rate after chemotherapy is so low, while Polish medical professors claim cure rates of 30 to 50%.”Cytowane w mojej książce analizy naukowe skuteczności chemioterapii wskazują, że była ona skuteczna ŚREDNIO w mniej niż 3%. Innymi słowy, średnio w 97% chemioterapia NIE przyczyniła się do przeżywalności pięcioletniej. To jak to w końcu jest?
Poważna, bo przecież jak najbardziej naukowa publikacja, wskazuje na to, że wyleczalność po zastosowaniu chemioterapii jest na tak niskim poziomie, a jednocześnie polscy profesorowie medycyny twierdzą, że mają wyleczalność na poziomie 30 do 50%.
Jerzy Zięba
Jerzy Zięba claims that chemotherapy extends the life of a cancer patient by an average of 2 months.
„An analysis of these studies showed that chemotherapy does indeed extend the life of a cancer patient, but by an average of… 2 months. Why is the public not informed about this? Why do the professors not talk about it? Why have so-called medical journalists not let the word out? The lack of honesty in sharing this kind of information with the Polish public leads to the devaluation of the professorial titles they have been awarded.”Analiza tych badań wykazała, że chemioterapia rzeczywiście przedłuża życie pacjenta nowotworowego, ale średnio o… 2 miesiące. Dlaczego nie informuje się o tym społeczeństwa? Dlaczego panowie profesorowie o tym nie mówią? Dlaczego tak zwani dziennikarze medyczni nie puścili o tym „pary z gęby?” Brak uczciwości w przekazywaniu tego typu informacji polskiemu społeczeństwu doprowadza do dewaluacji tytułów profesorskich, jakie im nadano.
Jerzy Zięba
Jerzy Zięba writes that chemotherapy causes terrible side effects in the vast majority of cases.
„It is well known that chemotherapy causes terrible side effects in the vast majority of cases. So is the price of this suffering worth paying if chemotherapy extends the patient's life by, for example, 3, 4, or 5 years?”Wiadomo, że stosowanie chemioterapii w zdecydowanej większości prowadzi do powstania fatalnych skutków ubocznych. Czy w takim razie cena tego cierpienia jest warta jego poniesienia, jeśli chemioterapia przedłuży pacjentowi życie np. o 3, 4 czy 5 lat?
Hubert Czerniak
Hubert Czerniak believes that the fight against cancer should not be based on chemotherapy; he cites a 2.1% increase in the chance of surviving five years.
„The fight against cancer does not have to be based on chemotherapy. What is more, it should not be! We can ask: why? One answer is the results of studies published in Medical Oncology 2004, 16, 549-560. An analysis of clinical trial results from 1990-2004 covering 22 types of cancer found that treatment with conventional chemotherapy may increase the chance of surviving 5 years by only 2.1%.”Walka z chorobami nowotworowymi nie musi opierać się na chemioterapii. Co więcej, nie powinna! Możemy zadać pytanie: Dlaczego? Jedna z odpowiedzi to wyniki badań opublikowanych na łamach Medical Oncology 2004, 16, 549-560. Analiza wyników badań klinicznych z lat 1990-2004 obejmujących 22 rodzaje nowotworów wykazała, że leczenie klasyczną chemioterapią może zwiększyć szansę na przeżycie 5 lat tylko o 2,1%.
Hubert Czerniak
Hubert Czerniak says that chemotherapy is completely ineffective for cancer of the uterus, prostate, skin, and kidneys, and for cancer of unknown origin.
„It is completely ineffective in cases of uterine cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer (melanoma), kidney cancer, or cancer of unknown origin. Despite these figures, sales of cancer “drugs” increase every year. It is a huge business in which only the patient bears the costs.”Jest całkowicie nieskuteczna w przypadku raka macicy, raka prostaty, raka skóry (melanoma), raka nerek czy raka nieznanego pochodzenia.
Mimo powyższych danych, sprzedaż „leków” na nowotwory rośnie z każdym rokiem. Jest to olbrzymi biznes, w którym koszty ponosi jedynie pacjent.
Hubert Czerniak
Hubert Czerniak describes the sale of cancer drugs as a huge business and suggests that companies profit more from long-term treatment than from a lasting cure.
„Will corporate giants take effective action against cancer? Why would they? After all, it is better to treat patients indefinitely than to cure them for good. The numbers have to add up. And how does that fit with the motto of all doctors: Primum non nocere (First, do no harm)?”Czy korporacyjne tuzy podejmą skuteczną walkę z rakiem? Po co mieliby to robić? Przecież lepiej jest leczyć, aby leczyć, niż trwale wyleczyć. Pieniądze muszą się zgadzać. A jak to się ma do hasła wszystkich lekarzy: Primum non nocere (Po pierwsze nie szkodzić)?
Hubert Czerniak
Hubert Czerniak repeats that the fight against cancer should not be based on chemotherapy and cites the same finding: a 2.1% increase in the chance of surviving five years.
„The fight against cancer does not have to be based on chemotherapy. What is more, it should not be! We can ask: why? One answer is the results of studies published in Medical Oncology 2004, 16, 549-560. An analysis of clinical trial results from 1990-2004 covering 22 types of cancer found that treatment with conventional chemotherapy may increase the chance of surviving 5 years by only 2.1%.”Walka z chorobami nowotworowymi nie musi opierać się na chemioterapii. Co więcej, nie powinna! Możemy zadać pytanie: Dlaczego? Jedna z odpowiedzi to wyniki badań opublikowanych na łamach Medical Oncology 2004, 16, 549-560. Analiza wyników badań klinicznych z lat 1990-2004 obejmujących 22 rodzaje nowotworów wykazała, że leczenie klasyczną chemioterapią może zwiększyć szansę na przeżycie 5 lat tylko o 2,1%.
Henryk Różański
Henryk Różański lists mistletoe and Iscador for the period before and after surgery, an herbal mixture for changes in white blood cell counts, and milk thistle as an addition to chemotherapy.
„Symptoms/period/therapy
Pre- and postoperative period of primary treatment
Mistletoe herb – Viscum; Mistelkraut
Iscador – ampoules, administered subcutaneously.
Changes in white blood cell levels, leukopenia
Combined preparation: Baptisia – wild indigo (Färberhülsenwurzel); Thuja – arborvitae, tips (Lebensbaumspitzen); Echinacea – coneflower, root (Sonnenhutwurzel); mixture
Supplementary treatment during chemotherapy
Milk thistle seeds – Cardui mariae fructus (semen); (Mariendistelfrüchte)
Silimarit – capsules”Objawy/okres/terapia
okres przed- i pooperacyjny leczenia podstawowego
ziele jemioły – Viscum; Mistelkraut
Iscador – amp. podskórnie.
Zmiany w poziomie białych ciałek krwi, depresja leukocytowa
Preparat złożony: Baptisia – bratwa (Färberhülsenwurzel) Thuja – żywotnik, wierzchołki (Liebensbaumspitzen) Echinacea – jeżówka, korzeń (Sennenhutwurzel); mieszanka
Leczenie uzupełniające przy chemioterapii
Nasiona ostropestu – Cardui mariae fructus (semen); (Mariendistelfrüchte)
Silimarit – kaps.
Henryk Różański
Henryk Różański lists eleuthero for recovery and infections, ginseng for fatigue, St. John's wort for depression, and marshmallow for inflammation of the oral mucosa and dry mouth.
„Recovery, accompanying infections
Eleutherococcus – root; (Taigawurzel)
Eleu-Kokk – coated tablets, 1 tablet 3 times a day.
General fatigue and exhaustion
Panax ginseng, ginseng, root (radix); (Ginsengwurzel)
Ardey-aktiv – lozenges; each lozenge contains 100 mg of 4:1 dry ginseng extract, equivalent to 400 mg of ginseng root; 3 lozenges daily.
Depression, low spirits
St. John's wort herb, Hypericum (Johanniskraut)
Laif 900, 1 tablet in the morning (each tablet contains 900 mg of 3-6:1 St. John's wort extract)
Chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy
Hawthorn leaf and flower, Crataegus, Folium, Flos (Weißdornblätter mit Blüten)
Crataegutt novo 450 mg; 1 tablet in the morning and 1 tablet in the evening; (contains 450 mg of dry extract)
Inflammation of the oral mucosa, dry mouth
Marshmallow root – Althaea officinalis; (Eibischwurzel)”rekonwalescencja, infekcje towarzyszące
Eleutherococcus – korzeń; (Taigawurzel)
Eleu-Kokk – draż. 3 razy dz. po 1 draż.
ogólne zmęczenie i wyczerpanie
Panax ginseng, żeń-szeń, korzeń (radix); (Ginsengwurzel)
Ardey-aktiv – pastylki; w 1 pastylce jest 100 mg suchego ekstraktu z żeń-szenia 4:1, co odpowiada 400 mg korzenia żeń-szeń; 3 pastylki dziennie.
depresja, zniechęcenie
ziele dziurawca, Hypericum (Johanniskraut)
Laif 900, 1 tabletka rano (w 1 tabletce jest 900 mg ekstraktu z ziela dziurawca 3-6:1)
kardiomiopatie wywołane chemioterapią
liść z kwiatem głogu Crataegus, Folium, Flos (Weißdornblätter mit Blüten)
Crataegutt novo 450 mg; 1 tabletka rano i 1 tabletka wieczorem; (zawiera suchy ekstrakt 450 mg)
zapalenie błony śluzowej jamy ustnej, suchość w ustach
korzeń prawoślazu – Althaea officinalis; (Eibischwurzel)
Henryk Różański
Henryk Różański recommends hawthorn for chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy.
„Depression, low spirits
St. John's wort herb, Hypericum (Johanniskraut)
Laif 900, 1 tablet in the morning (each tablet contains 900 mg of 3-6:1 St. John's wort extract)
Chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy
Hawthorn leaf and flower, Crataegus, Folium, Flos (Weißdornblätter mit Blüten)
Crataegutt novo 450 mg; 1 tablet in the morning and 1 tablet in the evening; (contains 450 mg of dry extract)
Inflammation of the oral mucosa, dry mouth
Marshmallow root – Althaea officinalis; (Eibischwurzel)”depresja, zniechęcenie
ziele dziurawca, Hypericum (Johanniskraut)
Laif 900, 1 tabletka rano (w 1 tabletce jest 900 mg ekstraktu z ziela dziurawca 3-6:1)
kardiomiopatie wywołane chemioterapią
liść z kwiatem głogu Crataegus, Folium, Flos (Weißdornblätter mit Blüten)
Crataegutt novo 450 mg; 1 tabletka rano i 1 tabletka wieczorem; (zawiera suchy ekstrakt 450 mg)
zapalenie błony śluzowej jamy ustnej, suchość w ustach
korzeń prawoślazu – Althaea officinalis; (Eibischwurzel)
Hubert Czerniak
Hubert Czerniak claims that bacterial culture preparations help people get through various medical procedures, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
„These are bacterial culture preparations that help you survive, even when you undergo various medical procedures, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy. These are the only bacteria that survive and save us. After the explosion in Chernobyl, many people involved in the rescue operation died as a result of radiation sickness.”Są to preparaty kultur bakterii, które pomagają przeżyć, nawet gdy jesteście poddani różnym procedurom medycznym tj. chemioterapia czy radioterapia. To jedyne bakterie, które przeżywają i nas ratują. Po eksplozji w Czarnobylu wielu ludzi uczestniczących w akcji ratowniczej zmarło w efekcie choroby popromiennej.
Research from PubMed · Europe PMC
We selected 5 studies with the best, positive results. This is a selection, not a full review of all research.
Total number of studies on this topic in PubMed: 95 855.
A meta-analysis found that adding traditional herbs to palliative chemotherapy for lung cancer improved treatment response, quality of life, and survival.
Aim of the study: Lung cancer, a leading cause of mortality, is often complicated by severe treatment-related side effects. Traditional herbal medicine (THM), particularly Fuzheng-Based Qi and Yin Therapy (FBQYT), has emerged as a promising adjuvant therapy to mitigate these effects and enhance immune response. This meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy and safety of THM as an adjunct to palliative chemotherapy.
Results: Combining chemotherapy with THM significantly improved the objective response rate (ORR, RR 1.41) and disease control rate (DCR, RR 1.20). It also enhanced quality of life, increasing Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score (MD 8.53) and KPS improvement (RR 1.51), alongside improvements in Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30) total score (MD 13.05). Tumor markers and most ADRs were reduced, except for neutropenia, liver injury, and diarrhea (P > .05). Survival rates, progression-free survival (PFS), and median survival time (MST) were higher in the THM group. Integrating THM with palliative chemotherapy enhances tumor response, QoL, and survival rates while reducing adverse effects. Further rigorous RCTs are needed to confirm these findings and address methodological limitations.
Money for the studygovernment, public institutions · Korea Health Industry Development Institute, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea
Do the authors have ties to companies?not stated
Did a manufacturer help with the study?unknown
Type of studycombined analysis of many studies (meta-analysis)
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
A review of studies on stomach cancer found that traditional herbal preparations added to chemotherapy after surgery were associated with a lower risk of death and disease recurrence.
Aim of the study: Stomach cancer has historically had a low survival rate, despite advances in curative resection procedures. This study assessed the potential benefits of traditional herbal medicines used with chemotherapy in postoperative gastric cancer patients in terms of overall survival and disease-free survival.
Results: There were 217 documented deaths among the 574 patients assigned to the adjuvant traditional medicines groups and 319 documented deaths among the 501 patients assigned to the chemotherapy-only groups. Adjuvant traditional medicines were associated with a statistically significant benefit in terms of overall survival rate (hazard ratio = 0.56; 95% confidence interval = 0.47-0.66; P < .00001) and disease-free survival (hazard ratio = 0.54; 95% confidence interval = 0.43-0.66; P < .00001). Among the included RCTs, the use of postoperative adjuvant traditional medicines was associated with a reduced risk of death in gastric cancer patients compared with the group of patients who received chemotherapy alone. However, most of the included studies are thought to be of low quality, so more trials are certainly advisable and necessary to reach correct and convincing conclusions.
Money for the studygovernment, public institutions · Traditional Korean Medicine R&D Project, Ministry for Health & Welfare & Family Affairs, Republic of Korea
Do the authors have ties to companies?no — the authors say so
Did a manufacturer help with the study?NO
Type of studyreview of many studies
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
A meta-analysis found that herbs added to chemotherapy after stomach cancer surgery improved tumor response and quality of life.
Aim of the study: Gastric cancer is a common cause of global mortality, and treatment presents significant challenges due to side effects and complications. Traditional herbal medicine (THM) has emerged as a potential adjuvant therapy to enhance cancer treatment by reducing side effects and bolstering the immune response. This study conducted a meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of THM as an adjuvant therapy in post-surgical gastric cancer patients.
Results: The group receiving both chemotherapy and THM showed substantial improvement in tumor response compared to the chemotherapy-only control group (RR 1.25, 95% CI [1.09, 1.45]). QoL also significantly increased in the THM-treated group. Most drug adverse reactions showed statistically significant differences, except for platelet reduction. Tumor markers CEA, CA19-9, and CA72-4 improved significantly, but CA125 did not. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates improved, with RR values of 1.08 (95% CI [1.02, 1.14]), 1.32 (95% CI [1.19, 1.47]), and 1.42 (95% CI [1.12, 1.79]), respectively. However, some publication bias was indicated. THM may offer potential benefits as a complementary approach to post-surgical anticancer therapy in gastric cancer patients. Improvements in tumor response, quality of life, and survival rates were reported.
Money for the studygovernment, public institutions · Korea Health Industry Development Institute, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea
Do the authors have ties to companies?not stated
Did a manufacturer help with the study?unknown
Type of studycombined analysis of many studies (meta-analysis)
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
A meta-analysis found that herbs used with chemotherapy reduced the incidence of hand-foot syndrome and increased the rate of improvement.
Aim of the study: The aims of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of herbal medicine for the prevention and management of hand-foot syndrome (HFS) induced by fluoropyrimidines and to identify herbs associated with HFS alleviation for further research.
Results: The total effective rate and complete remission rate among HFS patients increased significantly in the herbal medicine arm. Further sensitivity analysis identified Paeoniae Radix Alba, Carthami Flos, Cinnamomi Ramulus, and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma as consistently associated with significant reductions in HFS incidence, without important heterogeneity. However, the lack of blinding in most studies may have led to an overestimation of these effects. More high-quality RCTs and experimental research are needed to confirm and investigate the efficacy of the herbs identified in this study.
Money for the studygovernment, public institutions · State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China
Do the authors have ties to companies?not stated
Did a manufacturer help with the study?unknown
Type of studycombined analysis of many studies (meta-analysis)
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
In a study of patients with colon cancer, adding astragalus to chemotherapy was associated with fewer complications and beneficial changes in gut flora.
Aim of the study: Astragalus membranaceus is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) often used to modulate intestinal flora. This study aims to analyze the effects of Astragalus membranaceus on intestinal flora and chemotherapy-related complications in patients undergoing chemotherapy for colon cancer through clinical research and to explore the possible mechanism.
Results: Astragalus granules can reduce various complications during chemotherapy in patients with colon cancer. The study also analyzed patients' stool samples before and after chemotherapy and found that Astragalus can effectively increase the levels of intestinal Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus and reduce the levels of Enterococcus and Escherichia coli. In addition, analysis of patients' serum showed that Astragalus granules can increase serum CD4+ T-cell levels and reduce CD8+ T-cell levels. Astragalus granules can also relieve inflammation in patients during chemotherapy. A TCM formula based on astragalus can effectively regulate patients' intestinal flora, reduce chemotherapy complications, and relieve inflammation in the body during chemotherapy for colon cancer.
Money for the studynot stated
Do the authors have ties to companies?not stated
Did a manufacturer help with the study?unknown
Type of studyclinical study in people
Participants86
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
Perspectives and opinion materials
The content below presents the authors’ opinions, interpretations and hypotheses. It is not treated as equal to scientific studies and systematic reviews.
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Opinion material
„Saul (OMNS, October 7, 2008) When Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center announces that vitamin C may interfere with chemotherapy, the news media trumpet it far and wide. But before cancer patients throw away their vitamin C supplements, they need to know the rest of the story.”Saul (OMNS, October 7, 2008) When Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center announces that vitamin C may interfere with chemotherapy, the news media trumpet it far and wide. But before cancer patients throw away their vitamin C supplements, they need to know rest of the story.
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Opinion material
„Approximately eight weeks after surgery, I started traditional chemotherapy and intravenous vitamin C. On my first visit with the oncologist, she informed me that my prognosis was grim and that I had approximately a two-year survival rate. After three months of traditional chemotherapy and IV vitamin C, my lung tumor had disappeared and my liver tumor had shrunk by more than 50% from its largest recorded size. Needless to say, I was very encouraged by these results.”Approximately eight weeks after surgery, I started traditional chemotherapy and intravenous vitamin C. On my first visit with the oncologist, she informed me that my prognosis was grim and that I had approximately a two year survival rate. After three months of traditional chemotherapy and with IV vitamin C, my lung tumor had disappeared and my liver tumor shrunk more than 50% from its largest recorded size. Needless to say I was very encouraged with these results.
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Opinion material
„High doses of antioxidants, including vitamin C, do not decrease the efficacy of chemotherapy. Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients. Antioxidants against Cancer. Equinox Press Inc. Brooklyn NY, 2000. ISBN-10: 1881025284; ISBN-13: 978-1881025283. Also: Moss RW. Questioning Chemotherapy. Equinox Press, Brooklyn NY, 1995. ISBN-10: 188102525X; ISBN-13: 978-1881025252. Cancer and Vitamin C, revised edition. Philadelphia: Camino Books, 1993. ISBN-10: 094015921X; ISBN-13: 978-0940159211 Hoffer A and Pauling L. Vitamin C and Cancer: Discovery, Recovery, Controversy. Quarry Press, Kingston, ON, 1999.”High doses of antioxidants including vitamin C do not decrease the efficacy of chemotherapy. Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients. Antioxidants against Cancer. Equinox Press Inc. Brooklyn NY, 2000. ISBN-10: 1881025284; ISBN-13: 978-1881025283. Also: Moss RW. Questioning Chemotherapy. Equinox Press, Brooklyn NY, 1995. ISBN-10: 188102525X; ISBN-13: 978-1881025252. Cancer and Vitamin C, revised edition. Philadelphia: Camino Books, 1993. ISBN-10: 094015921X; ISBN-13: 978-0940159211 Hoffer A and Pauling L. Vitamin C and Cancer: Discovery, Recovery, Controversy. Quarry Press, Kingston, ON, 1999.
Pisaczek does not judge who is right. It shows what was written and where to read it. Every sentence above has its source.