“Alternative medicine”, which is different from “standard treatment” that you want to know, is 18:56 on December 5

These treatments are completely different from standard treatments, such as anticancer drugs, surgery, and radiation treatments, which can treat cancer by putting ozone into the blood, and can cure the cancer by baking soda sterilization and diet. It is called “alternative medicine”, and it has become a hot topic especially on the Internet, and different things come out one after another. If it is cured, there are many patients who want to try anything. How should this medical care be related?
(Reporter, Yuta Mizuno, Faculty of Science and Culture)

Criticism and objection to topic “blood cleansing” on SNS

A tweet posted in October.

“I recommended blood cleansing medicine”

“Blood cleansing” became a hot topic after this tweet.

About 100 milliliters of blood is once taken out of the body and put back into the body with the oxygen allotrope “ozone” used for sterilization and bleaching.

It was noticed that a number of celebrities have received postings, such as blogger Hachu and Kabuki actor Eizo Ichikawa.

If you look at the websites of clinics that perform "blood cleansing", various effects are expressed by "improving blood circulation" and "activating immunity".

▽ Improved fatigue of the whole body and muscles ▽ Stiff shoulders ▽ Headaches ▽ Fatigue ▽ Cooling ▽ Rheumatoid arthritis ▽ Nez, and ▽ Cancer ▽ Diseases related to blood vessels ▽ Atopic dermatitis.

Because it is free medical care that does not work for health insurance, it is 10000 yen once per person, and the full amount will be paid by you.

On the net, from experts, etc., `` You may think that it is safe because it just puts blood out of the body and returns it to the body, but is there a high risk of being infected with bacteria? '' Critics such as “No” were repeated.

It was taken up by the Health and Welfare Committee of the House of Representatives, and the Director of the Health Administration Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare replied, “It is said that it is spreading through free medical care, but the effects and risks have not been confirmed.”

The president of the Japanese Society of Oxidative Medicine, which is made up of doctors who perform blood cleansing, told the interview: “It has been held almost 70,000 times a year throughout the country, so far it has been related to patient safety. “There are no reports of this in the German language.

Newspaper advertisement saying "Cancer is cured by baking soda sterilization"

In November, while another criticism of “blood cleansing” continued, another “treatment method” became the subject of criticism.

On the morning of November 12, an advertisement was published on the Asahi Shimbun.

If you use "Baking soda sterilization" and "True antioxidant diet therapy" developed by an Italian doctor "Dr. Simoncini", it is an ad for a book that says you can cure cancer yourself.

Stomach cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, uterine cancer, breast cancer ... It was touching that all cancers could be cured.

Immediately afterwards, doctors posted to the SNS all at once, "Ads that promote medical practices without scientific grounds should not be posted."

There is no scientific evidence of “evidence”, and it is criticized severely as “false or hype” that the country forbids by law.

Asahi Shimbun's statement "Should have done enough consideration"

Twitter posts are widely spread.

Two days later, the Asahi Shimbun announced that the local media reported that the “doctor” had been expelled from the medical community but that the patient had been killed and imprisoned.

We issued a statement stating “We should fully consider it as a medium” and “We will endeavor to carefully check according to the content when deciding to post.”

Experiences of more than half of “alternative medicine” cancer patients

There are many other alternative medicines such as “vitamin therapy”, “immunotherapy”, and “supplements”, and they are overflowing with “patient experiences” on newspapers, TV, and the Internet.

Regarding this “alternative medicine”, Dr. Kozue Suzuki at the Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital conducted a survey in 2016 targeting approximately 450 families of cancer patients who died at palliative care facilities nationwide. It was.

As a result, 53% of people who tried some form of “alternative medicine”, such as supplements, hyperthermia, and certain types of immunotherapy, before they died after being diagnosed with cancer.

Some of the “alternative medicine” is covered by insurance, but many are “free medical care”, which is fully paid by the individual.

Unlike “standard treatment” where the government confirms safety and efficacy based on scientific evidence (evidence), “alternative medicine” is based on “discretion of doctors” widely accepted in Japan. Has been done.

“Life cannot be changed into money”

Why do so many patients receive “alternative medicine”?

I will introduce the case of Hiromi Tsuji who lost her husband with Skills stomach cancer three years ago.

Her husband, Tetsuya, received “standard treatment” with scientific evidence, but the cancer progressed so much that she could not do it.

He says he ran to “alternative medicine” because he wanted to do something.

The seaweed-derived ingredient “fucoidan” pills, high-concentration vitamin C drip, shiitake extract, carrot juice, “blood cleansing”….

I tried to do various “alternative therapies” by investigating on the internet about things that are said to be effective for cancer, recommending them from acquaintances, and sometimes introducing them to doctors, and it cost more than 8 million yen.

However, the expected effect is not seen, the husband's physical condition deteriorates, and he says that there remains a regret about why he did this.

Hiromi Tsuji "Various people told me that 'life can't be changed into money' and I couldn't believe that I had to do anything. I had no doubt at all. “I was missing,” he said, “I was steadily spending more money.” “The teacher of the attending physician was honestly explaining the limits of“ standard treatment ”based on the data. I thought I could get a good state-of-the-art treatment if I paid for it. ''

"Problems for doctors who don't stay close to patients"

Some people point out problems on the part of medical professionals as a background for patients to go to “alternative medicine”. Prof. Noriyuki Katsumata of Nippon Medical University Musashikosugi Hospital who raised the issue of newspaper advertisement.

Prof. Katsumi points out that the “standard treatment” received at medical institutions is the most effective medical treatment based on scientific grounds. To do.

Prof. Noriyuki Katsumata, Nippon Medical School Musashi Kosugi Hospital “During the treatment, there may be no further treatment. At that time, if the patient receives“ alternative medicine ”, the doctor will no longer see When I move from aggressive treatment to pain-relieving care, patients and families often feel painful, so I think they look ruthless. ”“ I'm indifferent to “alternative medicine” There are many doctors, and many doctors need to be conscious of sending accurate information. ''

To be sure, when I started interviewing about blood cleansing, I was impressed with many indifferent reactions such as “I don't deserve comment” and “I don't know in detail” by many academics and doctors in the field. I felt that there was a reality that patients and their families fell into anxiety as a result of these responses.

"References to sites that are investigating the basis of medical practice"

Some experts point out that just criticizing “alternative medicine” does not solve the problem.

Professor Satoshi Ohno of Shimane University, who has been researching "alternative medicine," pointed out that, for example, blood cleansing is not necessarily immediately problematic unless there is a health hazard. To do.

Prof. Satoshi Ohno, Shimane University “If a patient receiving the therapy becomes difficult to consult with a doctor due to criticism, the actual situation becomes difficult to grasp, and even when a major problem occurs, it becomes difficult to make a table.”

Prof. Ohno introduced a site because it is important to know whether it is based on scientific grounds when deciding on medical care for patients and their families.

Cochrane website (https://www.cochrane.org/en/evidence)
Leave the NHK site.

Cochrane is a site where experts from all over the world examine papers and check if there is a scientific basis for medical practice. There is a page translated into Japanese in an easy-to-understand manner. Not all “alternative medicine” has been tested, but it is helpful.

"Integrated medicine" information dissemination site (https://www.ejim.ncgg.go.jp)
Leave the NHK site.

A website of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare that summarizes information such as "alternative medicine" and overseas information.

“Cancer Information Service” website (https://ganjoho.jp)
Leave the NHK site.

“Cancer Information Service” operated by the National Cancer Center for cancer treatment. According to the type of cancer and the degree of progression, treatments with scientific evidence are summarized, and he introduced them as a reference.

First, understand “standard treatment” and then make “alternative medicine” decisions.

I think that it is humanity to feel that “I want to do anything, I want to do it” if a “treatment method” that seems to be effective is presented, for example, when my or my family has a difficult illness and there are no treatment options. The

How should we face and deal with such “alternative medicine”?

Hiromi Tsuji who tried various "alternative medicine" for husband with advanced cancer. As a representative of the cancer patient family association, Tsuji is now working to get medical knowledge based on scientific grounds, and discussing questions and anxieties to connect patients / family members and specialists. it is open.

Hiromi Tsuji "I think it is necessary for the country to keep an eye on inappropriate medical care and regulate it, but that alone is not enough. The patient, their family, and the general people who will be in the future in the future I think it is necessary to understand what “standard treatment” and “scientific-founded medicine” are. ”“ Speaking at the event, “I understood for the first time what the standard treatment is” “ Some people said that “alternative medicine” would be a mental support, so we would like to deepen our understanding and then receive alternative medicine. I hope it will be possible to judge. "

Yuta Mizuno, reporter, Faculty of Science and Culture