The times when cancer treatments were based primarily on chemotherapy and radiation therapy are finally a thing of the past. The innovations and treatment successes of personalized oncology in recent years have been too great, in which immunotherapy and molecular tumor therapy as well as individual genetics also play a decisive role. As early as 2018, twelve million people in Europe alone were living as “long-term survivors” after a cancer diagnosis. In the area of prevention, this statistic also brings new dynamics: 40 percent of all tumor diseases could be prevented through a healthy diet, exercise and avoiding nicotine.
GRAZ. Philipp Jost, head of the clinical department for oncology, put it even more clearly at the last Meinmed evening “Modern Oncology – Where is the journey going?” at the Med University Graz:
“Cancer therapy is currently undergoing a revolution. There are options that we didn’t have just a few years ago.”
Personalized oncology is the motto. The concept of molecular tumor therapy aims at individualized therapy with targeted medications using molecular analysis. Jost describes immunotherapy as one of the main innovations of recent years, which has shown good success in some types of cancer. The oncologist describes the relationship between healthy tissue and cancer cells with the following comparison:
“Healthy tissue is comparable to a beautiful symphony orchestra in which everyone knows exactly what to do and acts precisely, coordinated and moderately. In comparison, a tumor in healthy tissue behaves uncoordinated, monotonous, independent and like a loud rock -Concert in the middle of the symphony orchestra.” (Philipp Jost, Head of the Clinical Department of Oncology at the Med University of Graz)
The field of solid oncology, which includes most types of cancer – with the exception of blood cancer, which is part of the field of hematology – is therefore, on the one hand, inspired by treatment successes, and on the other hand, the number of cancer diagnoses is constantly increasing. “The causes for this are primarily increased life expectancy and environmental toxins,” Jost refers to WHO figures. The number of cases discussed per week by the Molecular Tumor Board at Graz Oncology alone has increased by 270 percent within ten years. In the tumor board meetings, the oncology departments meet twice a week to discuss individual cases, find solutions together and share the latest findings. According to Jost, this exchange is becoming increasingly important because the high level of study activity worldwide is leading to numerous new medications. Two new cancer drugs are approved by the EMA (European Medicines Agency) every month, and this increase in medication complexity requires experts who deal with the changes as well as the corresponding specialist knowledge about their correct use.
Prevention is the most important thing
This enormous effort and the extremely high costs for our health system could be significantly lower, because 40 percent of all tumor diseases are considered preventable: healthy nutrition, exercise and avoiding smoking are the keys to cancer prevention.
“Prevention is the most important thing. Apparently this is not so clear among the population,”
the oncologist emphasizes these still largely underestimated possibilities, and also points out that an increased focus on health promotion would pay off in the long term:
“Prevention with regard to cancer tends to be delayed after a few years and decades.”
According to research, the incidence of cancer is most strongly associated with diet. High meat consumption by mammals in particular is disadvantageous. Nevertheless, Jost points out that the matter should not be seen in “black and white” and that meat should not be avoided altogether. However, a healthy diet with a high proportion of plant-based and vegetarian foods is associated with a lower risk of cancer. In connection with stomach cancer, the consumption of salted fish should also be avoided, as this promotes the development of stomach cancer. The expert advises against fasting during cancer and “starving the tumor”:
“Fasting during cancer therapy and the attempt to starve the tumor weakens the patient, not the tumor. During chemotherapy, the body needs strength.”
Exercise supports recovery
If you already have cancer, there are also clear positive effects of physical exercise. Here the oncologist refers to study results that show very good results in cancer patients who completed exercise interventions during cancer therapy – compared to patients without exercise therapy.
Meinmed – practice-oriented medical knowledge
Meinmed organizes Austria’s largest series of health lectures, with a focus on practice-oriented topics that are presented by voluntary speaking specialists – free of charge for anyone interested in medicine. This is made possible by collaboration with numerous health and research institutions, such as the Med Uni Graz, Med Uni Vienna, the Styrian Health Fund, the University Cancer Center Graz, the Austrian Cancer Aid Styria, the Regionalmedien Austria or the Austrian Health Insurance Fund.
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