Surviving Against All Odds: Analysis of 6 Case Studies of Patients With Cancer Who Followed the Gerson Therapy

Abstract

A considerable number of patients with cancer have used or are using the Gerson therapy, an alleged anticancer metabolic diet. However, there is almost no scientific support for this regimen. Hence, the present case review study of 6 patients with metastatic cancer who used the Gerson therapy aims at critically evaluating each case to derive some valid interpretations of its potential effect. All 6 cases had a cancer diagnosis with poor prognosis. Despite the presence of some confounding variables, it seems that the Gerson regimen has supported patients to some extent both physically and psychologically. More scientific attention needs to be directed to this area so that patients can practice safe and appropriate therapies that are based on evidence rather than anecdotes.

What Is an Exceptional Cancer Trajectory?: Multiple Stakeholder Perspectives on Cancer Trajectories in Relation to Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use

“…In her qualitative interview study on exceptional cancer survivorship, Young defined cancer survival as "having survived beyond a medical prognosis of less than 20 percent chance of being cancer symptom free at the time of the interview." 22(p5) In addition, regardless of the specific research design, CAM use is rarely systematically monitored in studies on exceptional recoveries (with some notable exceptions 23,24 ). This is noteworthy because several studies have found that patients with reported exceptional recoveries have used CAM.…”

Integrative Nutrition and Nutrition/Herbal Supplements

“…However, no randomized clinical trial have con fi rmed these fi ndings. Molassiotis et al reported a case review of six patients with advanced cancer (Molassiotis and Peat 2007 ) . The authors reported prolonged survival; however, confounding variables preclude the study from supporting further research.…”

Dr. med. Max Gerson – Zum 50. Todesjahr eines Pioniers der Ernährungsmedizin

“…Befragungen an Krebskranken haben gezeigt, dass diese v. a. in den ersten Monaten nach der Diagnose hoch motiviert sind, ihren Lebensstil und ihre Ernährungsweise zu ändern. Dieses Potenzial sollte genutzt werden, d. h. es sollten im Interesse von Krebskranken Studien zur therapeutischen Wirksamkeit bestimmter Krebsdiäten und v. a. der Gerson-Therapie durchgeführt werden [8].…”