Healers, providers of complementary/ alternative medicine, may be dangerous to all oncological patients including themselves

Abstract

6137 Background: It is well known that healers may be dangerous to patients with malignant oncological diseases. We had the possibility to examine, treat and follow-up 3 locally well-known healers from 3 towns of the Czech-Moravian Highland at our hospital in 1999–2000. Methods: Healers used for their clients following healing practices: the sensual establishing causes (”diagnosis“) of client's health problems, removal of a bad energy or pain with hands cleaned in water, providing positive energy, treatment with herbal mixtures and teas, homeopathy, etc. Currently used medical therapy was offered to all of them. Results: All three healers were females, aged 57–64 years at diagnosis who came with very advanced tumors after the 6–36 months of symptoms duration in which two had tried to cure themselves. The 64 year-old woman with breast cancer T4b N2 M1 (SKI, LYM) survived 13 months after radiotherapy plus tamoxifen. The 57 year-old female with breast cancer T4b N2 M0 and 60 year-old one with eosophageal cancer T4 N1 M1 (HEP) refused radiotherapy after the 5th (as well as FAC chemotherapy) and 10th fraction, respectively, and died within 3–4 months since diagnosis. Conclusions: 1. Healers did not diagnose their illness in spite of the long-term presence of sings and symptoms. 2. They came with the 6–36 months' delay to medical examination and thus their tumours were very advanced. at medical diagnosis. 3. They were not able to improve their health status with their own healing practices. 4. Two healers interrupted usual medical therapy shortly after its beginning and their survival was only 3–4 months since diagnosis while the third survived 13 months with this therapy. 5. All three began their healing practice after an experience in being a patient for 2 months to years for a serious illness. 6. They claimed that their main goal had been