Supportive and Palliative Care in Cancer Therapies—Path from Tumor-Driven Therapies to Patient-Driven Ones

Abstract

Cancer patients frequently report a set of symptoms including fatigue, pain, and physiological and social distress. Families and other personal lay relations give proposals to take supportive drugs and supplemental nutrients, without professional knowledge about their actions. Internet search engines and social networks serve up most of the treatment proposals, opening wide possibilities for quackeries and predatory money-making practices. Medical professionals have a responsibility to clear this field and concentrate on patients' well-being and personal needs. According to our approach, the integration of supportive and palliative care with conventional therapies needs a change of paradigm from tumour-driven to patient-driven treatment actions. Supportive/palliative care includes a broad spectrum of applied methods, including medications, nourishments, electrical effects, and psycho and social supports. Our goal is to discuss the possibilities for combining conventional oncotherapies with additional supportive/palliative care and to give suggestions on a professional basis.

The Clinical Validation of Modulated Electro-Hyperthermia (mEHT)

“…The selection of the malignant cells uses the microscopic natural heterogeneities of the tumor. The applied electric field has different interactions with the cancerous and healthy cells in four basic characteristics, Figure 1 , discussed in multiple publications [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]: Due to the intensive metabolism of the malignant cells, the ionic species of the nutrients and waste molecules (such as lactate) have high concentrations in the tumor microenvironment (TME), and together with the extended volume of the extracellular matrix (ECM), create a significantly higher electric conductivity of the microenvironment of malignant cells and the entire tumor [ 13 , 14 ]. This conduction difference drives the RF current to the area [ 15 ].…”

“…The selection of the malignant cells uses the microscopic natural heterogeneities of the tumor. The applied electric field has different interactions with the cancerous and healthy cells in four basic characteristics, Figure 1, discussed in multiple publications [8][9][10][11][12]:…”