Mistletoe therapy may give cancer sufferers kiss of life

Wednesday 26 September 2012

IT NORMALLY only comes to public attention at Christmas time but mistletoe may have beneficial effects on some cancer patients in terms of life expectancy and quality of life.

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Russell Leadbetter

Now a pilot study for a clinical trial is being planned at Aberdeen University with the aim of understanding what effect mistletoe has on immune cells in the blood of patients with cancer, and on the tumours themselves, after positive results were experienced by patients of a general practitioner in the city.

Those who say they have benefited from mistletoe treatment include former England international cricketer John Edrich who was diagnosed in 2000 with a rare form of incurable leukaemia. He was given a maximum of seven years, with treatment, to live, and underwent gruelling chemotherapy for five years. Then he learned about the mistletoe treatment, and began receiving twice-weekly injections.Mr Edrich, who lives in Aberdeenshire, said he had been advised to contact Dr Stefan Geider, a GP and qualified anthroposophic doctor, at Camphill Medical Practice in Aberdeen. The retired Test cricketer said: "I've gradually got better and better and I've got to a stage where I'm doing everything. I'm probably better now than I have ever been. I'm 75 and I'm playing golf three times a week."I'm certain it has been down to the mistletoe. Otherwise, I'm sure I wouldn't be here today."Dr Geider said: "I've had experience with the treatment within the context of a German university hospital and had witnessed a number of patients who showed a marked improvement with the treatment. I've used mistletoe therapy with patients here in Aberdeen for 16 years and have had similar successes."Typically you see an increase in energy levels, less pain, improved appetite, better sleep patterns and improved motivation. From my clinical experience, of seeing patients for mistletoe therapy on a regular basis, it becomes clear mistletoe, with some people – though not with all – has some impact on tumour reduction."Mistletoe has in my experience been helpful to many of my patients, both in terms of quality of life and life expectancy, but it does not work for everybody. It should be stressed it is not a miraculous cure and we need to understand more fully how mistletoe works and why it does so for some people more than for others. Therefore we need the pilot study."The Mistletoe for Cancer UK website, which notes the plant has been used in cancer treatment for more than 90 years, says the introduction of the mistletoe extract from the whole plant into the body is designed to kickstart and re-educate the immune system, so it realises something is wrong and starts to fight back against the cancer.An Aberdeen University study found 70% of breast cancer patients have taken, or are taking, complementary and alternative medicines. One of these is mistletoe which is being taken on the basis of European studies suggesting there might be an anti-cancer effect.Steve Heys, professor of surgical oncology at the university and a consultant surgeon, said: "A very high quality, detailed analysis reviewed all the studies of mistletoe and concluded that because of the methodological problems with these studies there is currently no evidence for an effect on survival. [But] this review also suggested there might be an effect of mistletoe on improving the quality of life in patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Further studies are necessary to determine if there is an effect on improving quality of life in this situation."Given the importance of complementary and alternative medicine to patients, there is an urgent need to understand what effects these agents have both in terms of their own effects and possible drug interactions so patients may have this information to facilitate them making an informed decision as to what is important for them."

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Mistletoe therapy may give cancer sufferers kiss of life

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