Cancer survivor drives John Hopkins mistletoe therapy trials:
In 2011, Page launched Believe Big, a nonprofit foundation that helps cancer patients and their families through this traumatic, life — changing diagnosis. Based on her own experience as a colon cancer survivor, Page aims to educate the cancer community about the importance of combining conventional and complementary approaches to treatment.
To that end, Believe Big is the primary backer of a clinical trial of mistletoe extract, an alternative therapy Page underwent, slated to begin at Johns Hopkins Medicine’s Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center within the next six months.
Page attributes her current health condition to conventional surgery and complementary mistletoe extract, a therapy widely used in Europe as an alternative cancer treatment.
However, her doctor, Dr. Peter Hinderberger, of the Ruscombe Mansion Community Health Center near Sinai Hospital, though, is well versed in the treatment.
Through her own research and through the recommendations of friends, Page became acquainted with Hinderberger’s work in complementary medicine.
He’s one of two physicians in Baltimore — and 50 total in the U.S. — allowed to prescribe mistletoe for certain cases. Dr. Hinderberger, now a board member of Believe Big, first learned about the treatment in the 1970s when he worked at a cancer clinic in Switzerland that specialized in alternative treatment.
Dr. Hinderberger describes mistletoe extract as the “backbone” of his cancer protocol, the specifics depending on the patient’s kind of cancer, current stage and treatment — surgery, chemotherapy or radiation.
While mistletoe is not approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It falls under the category of homeopathy and is paid for out-of-pocket, at a cost
of $100 to $150 per month, depending on the extract intensity and number of injections.
Page, a slim, vibrant woman who runs Believe Big out of her home in Reisterstown, has had an equally improbable journey.
Five years ago, the 37-year-old mother of four, was found to have Stage 4 colon cancer that eventually spread to her liver, dropping her survival rate chances after two years to just 8 percent.
That’s why after her surgery, Page searched for an alternative to standard chemotherapy treatment.
“As I was going through this process, I saw people who were in such a hopeless state. I wanted to help them, to let them know about treatments other than the traditional ones,” said Page, who added that she is now cancer-free.
At first blush, Page was taken aback by the thought of being cured by mistletoe extract, which is sold under the brand names Iscador, Helixor and a handful of others, in liquid form in injectable vials.
“I’m like, ‘mistletoe, what’s that? That’s what I see at Christmastime,’ she said. ‘Why haven’t I been told about this before?'”
According to the institute, several trials of mistletoe have been undertaken and are under way in Europe for those countries’ official approval. In the U.S., the institute lists two mistletoe trials besides Hopkins, although the sites are not given and the results not yet published.
Still, after Dr. Hinderberger explained that mistletoe contains viscotoxin, a poisonous substance that actively and directly kills cancer cells and boosts patients’ cancer-fighting immune system via special proteins called lectins, Page became very interested. Once he added that the substance also prevents new blood-vessel formation in cancers and promotes natural cell death, she was all in.
“When I found out from my oncologist that I only had a 10 percent better chance of survival by taking chemo(therapy), I decided to burn the boats and not look back,” she said. “Why would I want to destroy everything in my body for just a 10 percent chance?”
From clinical studies and his personal experience, “mistletoe prolongs survival time and improves the quality of life,” Dr. Hinderberger said.
Page is the link between Dr. Hinderberger and Dr. Luis Diaz, an associate professor of oncology at Hopkins’ Kimmel Cancer Center, who is conducting the mistletoe trial. Diaz is also a board member of Believe Big.
“Dr. Diaz followed my progress” on mistletoe therapy, Page said. “Once I hit the one-year mark, I told him, ‘We need to make this available.’ At the three-year mark, he was willing to do the trial. He told me that being cancer-free three years after surgery is unbelievable.”
Apparently, she and the mistletoe also made a big believer of Diaz.
Mistletoe, or Viscum album is a semi-parasitic plant that grows on oaks and other trees in Europe and Asia. Mistletoe is also found in America and Korea, but normally only the European species is used in the treatment of cancer, inflammatory conditions and AIDS. The leaves, twigs, and berries are what is used to make these herbal medicines. Because the medicinal doses are small (it can be poisonous in large doses), many believe it to be “homeopathic,” but it isn’t.
What studies show:
In animal studies, mistletoe preparations have helped fight some forms of cancer. The best results with Iscador are claimed for its use with solid tumors both before and after surgery and radiation. Given 10 to 14 days before surgery, it is thought to help prevent metastatic spread due to surgery and to promotes recovery and it is also used for advanced stage, inoperable solid tumors, especially cancers of the bladder, stomach, intestine, genital organs, and skin.
It is also claimed that bone metastases are retarded in some cases. Results appear less promising for inoperable cancers of the breast, lungs and esophagus. It is thought that tumor growth slows or stops, and then gradual regression begins. It is believed tumor cells are transformed first to a semi-malignant form, then to chronic inflammation and finally to normal tissue.
Mistletoe …. contains a cytotoxic lectin, viscumin. It also contains a number of cytotoxic proteins and polypetides (viscotoxins). Various lectins are both cytotoxic and immunostimulatory. It induces tumor necrosis, increases natural killer cell activity, increases production of interleukins 1 and 6; activates macrophages; also will induce programmed cell death (apoptosis), and protects the DNA in normal cells during chemotherapy.
Mistletoe extracts are marketed under several trade names, such as Iscador, Helixor, Eurixor, and Isorel, most of which are available in Europe. Weleda AG manufactures Iscador., which consists of fermented extracts of mistletoe, sometimes combined with trace amounts of silver, copper or mercury. In the United States, any of these extracts must be prescribed by a physician.
However, most doctors in the US do not use it. Though mistletoe is not commonly used in the United States, it is allowed by compassionate use. Physicians in the United States can order Iscador directly from European manufacturers. Oral/liquid mistletoe can be ordered by your physician by contacting Weleda AG …. through www.usa.weleda.com or by calling 800-241-1030.
Some of the alternative physicians that use it include: San Diego Clinic and Stella Maris in Mexico, Dr. Jesse Stoff in Arizona, Atkins Center in NY, Lukas Clinic in Switzerland, Joseph Brenner, M.D. in Tel-Aviv, Klinik St George and Hufeland Clinic in Germany, and Humlegaarden in Denmark. If you are aware of any clinical trials using mistletoe or any other clinics using it, please email our webmaster to add this information to our website.
Mistletoe preparations are used to stimulate the immune system, to kill cancer cells, and to help reduce tumor size. It may also help improve the quality of life and survival of some cancer patients, especially those using chemo and radiation, and may help reduce pain and side effects of these treatments. A German study done by Dr. Ronald Grossarth-Maticek of the Institute for Preventive Medicine in Heidelberg shows that, when used as adjunctive treatment in patients with a variety of cancers, it can increase survival time by as much as 40%.
Typical Treatment:
A typical treatment course can last several months to years. The doses are gradually increased and adjusted depending on the patient’s general condition, sex, age, and type of cancer. Mistletoe is typically given by subcutaneous injection, but it sometimes is injected directly into the tumor particularly on the liver, esophagus and cervix. It may also be taken orally in tumors of the brain and spinal cord.
Side effects and possible risks:
Commercial mistletoe extracts generally have minimal side effects, but in rare cases allergic symptoms including anaphylactic reactions have been reported. It is usually produces an increase in body temperature and flu-like symptoms. In addition, to the injection site can become inflamed and abdominal pain with nausea may occur. Other side effects include: upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, fever, headaches, chest pain, and low blood pressure.
Overdose, however, can cause severe poisoning including seizures, coma and death. Even a few leaves or berries can cause poisoning, so never eat part of a mistletoe plant and keep the plants away from animals and children. In addition, the preparation contains tyramine, patients on any type of monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor antidepressant should not take it. The combination can cause dangerously high blood pressure. People with heart problems should also be careful, it raises blood pressure and accelerates the pulse.
Therapy is normally discontinued in case of high temperature over 38ºC. Also Some research indicates Iscador injections should not be administered during the first days of the menstrual period. Seizures and death have been reported. This product should only be used in a closely supervised setting, and should not be used for normal consumption – reasons mistletoe products must be prescribed by a physician.
To avoid potential interactions, be sure to let your health care provider know if you use this or any other type of complementary therapy, and always take under the advice and the supervision of a health practioner.
Iscador – Cancer therapy with Mistletoe!!!!
This film traces back to the origins of the medicinal substance in the Society for Cancer Research and provides an insight into the special production methods of Iscador® at the Hiscia Institute. In addition to in-depth information about ingredients and medicinal effect, doctors and patients relate their own experiences with the medication.
Preview YouTube video Iscador – Cancer therapy with mistletoe
or – Cancer therapy with mistletoe