Beyond the Magic Bullet: The Anti-Cancer Cocktail

Nothing reliably cures cancer yet—so patients should try everything, according to this optimistic primer on “integrative” oncology. Chang, an oncologist and practitioner of integrative medicine, which combines conventional and alternative approaches, argues that a single “magic bullet” cancer drug will not materialize; he advocates a “cocktail strategy” featuring kitchen-sink ensembles of medical regimens that attack cancers in many different ways. He urges patients to accept conventional surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, but the book’s heart is a lengthy compendium of “unconventional” treatments: pharmaceuticals—from aspirin to antidepressants—with “off-label” anticancer uses; vitamins and nutritional supplements; homeopathic remedies; traditional Chinese medicine; herbal teas. Claims about alternative cancer treatments are notoriously slippery, and while Chang backs this up with peer-reviewed studies, he doesn’t systematically gauge the quality of those studies or clearly state the significance (or insignificance) of results. His treatment approach—untested medicinal cocktails of many ingredients with complicated side effects—is so complex, irregular, and improvisatory that it defies scientific assessment; his approach will attract patients willing to try a bewildering menu of options. (Feb.)