Implementation of an Integrative Oncological Concept in the Daily Care of a German Certified Breast Cancer Center

Abstract

Background: In recent decades the concept of integrative medicine has attracted growing interest in patients and professionals. At the Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Havelhöhe (GKH), a hospital specialized in anthroposophical medicine, a breast cancer center (BCC) has been successfully certified for more than 5 years. The objective of the present study was to analyze how integrative strategies were implemented in the daily care of primary breast cancer patients. Methods: Clinical, demographic, and follow-up data as well as information on non-pharmacological interventions were analyzed. In addition, BCC quality measures were compared with data of the National Breast Cancer Benchmarking Report 2016. Results: Between 2011 and 2016, 741 primary breast cancer patients (median age 57.4 years) were treated at the GKH BCC. 91.5% of the patients showed Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) stage 0, I, II, or III and 8.2% were in UICC stage IV. 97% of the patients underwent surgery, 53% radiation, 38% had hormone therapy, and 25% received cytostatic drugs. 96% of the patients received non-pharmacological interventions and 32% received Viscum album L. therapy. Follow-up was performed in up to 93% of the patients 2 years after first diagnosis. Compared to nationwide benchmarking BCCs, the GKH BCC met the requirements in central items. Conclusions: The results of the present study show that integrative therapies offered by the concept of anthroposophical medicine can be implemented in the daily care and treatment of a certified BCC. However, as national guidelines on integrative concepts in oncology are missing, further studies are needed for a systematic evaluation of integrative treatment and care concepts in this field.

The Internal Coherence of Breast Cancer Patients Is Associated with the Decision‐Making for Chemotherapy and Viscum album L. Treatment

“…We conducted a prospective observational study for primary stage I-III breast cancer patients as reported previously [ 30 , 31 ]. Patients who gave written consent to be registered in the Network Oncology (NO) registry [ 32 ], who were diagnosed between June 2012 and April 2017 at the certified Breast Cancer Centre (Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Havelhöhe, Berlin, Germany), and who received a tumor board advice for CTX were included.…”

Psychosocial, Cognitive, and Physical Impact of Elaborate Consultations and Life Review in Female Patients with Non-Metastasized Breast Cancer

“…Facing the diagnosis of cancer can lead into an existential crisis, with feelings of loss of reality, meaning, and security, accompanied by existential fear and despair [9]. In the certified breast cancer center (BCC) of the Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Havelhöhe [10] specialized in Anthroposophic-integrative oncology, ECLR is applied apart from regular or daily ward rounds and outside of patient rooms, by consciously giving time and space in extra interview appointments. Medical-related questions, e.g.…”

“…As indicated by a meta-analysis in 2008, the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) was 1 of the 4 most common and well-developed valid instruments to measure HRQL in breast cancer patients. To supply high quality standards and to make the results comparable [20], data from EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaires that were answered by patients being treated in a certified German BCC were evaluated in the present study; the BCC is annually audited by the country's largest scientific-oncological medical expert association, the German Cancer Association (DKG) [10]. …”

Complementary Medicine Provision in an Academic Hospital: Evaluation and Structuring Project

“…This finding seems to contradict other studies that reported the largest number of CM provisions in oncology departments. 4,[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] The main motivations to provide and maintain CM in this project were symptoms such as pain, anxiety, or insomnia; difficult care situations; and positive feedback from patients and health care professionals. In other settings, reasons to deliver CM included pain, anxiety, 4,28 prevention of drugrelated side effects, 4,28 scientific evidence for some CMs, 4,29 management of chronic diseases, 2,28 patient or employee requests, 4,7,28 long hospitalizations, 28 or patients not responding to conventional medicine.…”