Research Article

Intravenous Mistletoe Treatment in Integrative Cancer Care: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Procedures, Concepts, and Observations of Expert Doctors

Box 4

Case illustrations regarding tumor response and favorite course of disease under MT infusions.
(i) A patient with metastatic, chemotherapy-resistant, very advanced esophageal cancer and a survival
prognosis of 4 months was treated with mistletoe infusions twice per week for 5 years and had a complete
tumor remission. The patient survived for more than 20 years up to the interview. (General practitioner, oncologist)
(ii) The residual tumor after the fourth surgical resections of recurrent breast cancer disappeared under
treatment with mistletoe infusions alone. Since then the patient lived about 9 years. (General practitioner)
(iii) A patient with a cancer of unknown primary, a rapidly growing squamous cell carcinoma, peritoneal
carcinosis and a very poor prognosis received weekly mistletoe infusions (Helixor A, 100–500 mg). He had
a stable condition for 1,5 years, and the CT scan showed regression of some of the tumors. The tumors
progressed again thereafter, and the infusions were switched to another host tree (Helixor M). The
situation stabilized again, with further partial regressions in the CT scan, and remained as such at the time
of the interview (about 9 months later). (Oncologist)
(iv) A patient with fungating locally recurrent breast cancer received MEs as peritumoral injections and
intravenous infusions. The tumor regressed repeatedly for at least 2 years. (Internist)
(v) A patient with stomach cancer (removed by gastrectomy), liver and lymph node metastases and a
depressed mood refused all standard oncological treatments. Her survival prognosis was 9 months. Her
condition improved under mistletoe infusions alone (Abnoba Viscum Qu). She gained weight, vitality and
enjoyment of life, and her depressive symptoms subsided. After some months, the liver metastases
progressed, but now the patient agreed to chemotherapy (capecitabin oxaliplatin), which induced a
partial remission. Mistletoe infusions were continued weekly, and the patient remained in a stable
condition for 8 years. At the time of the interview, she had consulted the physician following a seizure,
when a brain tumor or metastasis were suspected. (Oncologist) Another patient with colon cancer was
treated with the same intravenous MT by the same physician, but similar good results could not be replicated. (Oncologist)
(vi) In a patient with leukemia mistletoe (Helixor) infusions had no remarkable influence on controlling
lymphocytosis. However, previously frequent infections (lung) became less frequent and healed more
easily and extensive fatigue vanished. (Oncologist)