Research & Outcomes

How Cancer Statistics Are Collected

Cancer survival statistics are typically compiled at the national level in different countries as part of massive public health programs funded by tax dollars that leverage the combined efforts of hundreds of institutions and thousands of researchers. Having large numbers of patients who are being closely tracked from diagnosis to resolution is essential for the statistics to be relevant.

In the United States, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) publishes survival statistics for conventional cancer therapy in the SEER database. NCI-SEER surveils about 48% of the total U.S. population through its 21 regional registries, leveraging various government organizations to track each patient’s complete survival journey. It is not surprising, then, that individual hospitals and institutions, whether conventional, integrative, or alternative, hardly ever publish their survival data independently. Conventional treatment centers rely on the collective data from NCI-SEER. However, it does not provide survival rates that are directly related to specific conditions or associated with the hospital that you may be considering.

Generally, improvements in statistics are more about improving the average survival rates, while individual survival rates can vary significantly from the average. In fact, NCI states that “statistical trends are usually not directly applicable to individual patients” (1). Additionally, there can be outside factors that affect survival rates across a large population. For example, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there was a significant improvement in cancer mortality rates for lung cancer in men (1.7% per year) between the years 1990 and 2000. That improvement, however, was largely related to public health measures that successfully reduced tobacco consumption across the country, and not due to improvements in the treatments themselves. In that same time period, a statistically significant increase in mortality was recorded among women, which coincided with increased consumption of tobacco products in that demographic (2).

Statistics Don’t Tell the Full Story

Statistics have inherent limitations. To obtain a better understanding on the topic of cancer survival statistics, we encourage you to read Statistics: Why Meaningful Statistics Cannot be Generated from a Private Practice, written by the late Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez, M.D., a renowned integrative physician. 

Most cancer survival statistics are reported based on the organ affected (e.g., lung, breast, prostate, etc.) and a generalized measure of the extent of progression (localized, regional, or distant/metastatic). However, outcomes are determined by a variety of factors. For example:

• What is the nature of your cancer cells (based on histology reports)?
• Have you had any prior toxic therapies?
• What is your immune and nutritional status?
• Do you have a prior medical history or other co-existing diseases or conditions that could complicate your treatment and recovery? 
• How do you manage your diet, exercise, and stress?
• What is your overall emotional and spiritual outlook?
• …and so much more.

No two cancer patients are alike, and their outcomes may differ dramatically from what the statistics suggest. In our experience, a patient’s healing path can be molded in the desired direction by following the concepts embodied in the 7 Key Principles of Cancer Therapy™.

We have designed our treatment protocols to treat all types of cancer. Unlike mainstream treatments that are either general cellular toxins or target specific cancer cell types by blocking certain biochemical pathways, Hope4Cancer’s methodology treats the disease based on its underlying causes. We go beyond simply treating the tumor by also working on the abnormal tumor microenvironment and stabilizing the body’s erratic bioregulatory mechanisms.

We understand that ultimate healing happens at three levels—the body, the mind, and the spirit—and address all those areas as part of our treatment program. As Dr. Jimenez often says, “We do not treat the cancer in the person, but the person with cancer.”

Remember, statistics don’t define your future—you do. With informed choices, consistent daily actions, and a positive outlook, you have the power to improve your odds of not only extending your life but also enhancing its quality. 

Patient Success Stories at Hope4Cancer

Hope4Cancer has been treating cancer patients since its inception in 2000. Our treatment centers are fully licensed by COFEPRIS, the Mexican health authority, and consistently pass all regulatory inspections with success. 

Our data shows that 65 to 70% of patients come to Hope4Cancer when their cancer has already progressed to Stage III or Stage IV, often after significant advancement from their original diagnosis. In fact, 65 to 75% of our patients have previously undergone conventional treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, targeted therapies, or immunotherapies. 

These prior treatments, while sometimes necessary, can leave lasting toxicities that place additional stress on the body and compromise the immune system. As a result, many patients begin their journey with us in a more fragile state, facing greater health challenges than those who seek integrative care immediately after diagnosis. 

Even so, we are proud the share a large number of documented patient success stories on our Testimonials page, demonstrating that healing and improved quality of life are possible, even in the most difficult cases. 

Preserving and Improving Quality of Life

At Hope4Cancer, we believe every day is a gift, which is why we view quality of life as a key measure of treatment success. The 7 Key Principles of Cancer Therapy™ provide the foundation for safe, non-toxic, integrative treatment protocols designed to target cancer cells and restore balance in the body. Combined with empowering education, this approach helps patients regain control and live more fully during their healing journey. 

Conventional treatments often focus narrowly on shrinking tumors, while side effects can severely reduce quality of life. Studies confirm this: A CDC/Harvard University study of 464 breast cancer patients on a multi-chemotherapy protocol consisting of five drugs showed that treatment discontinuation was strongly tied to declining quality of life (3). Similarly, research on tamoxifen found that 15 to 50% of patients discontinue use due to side effects (4-6).

In contrast, our clinical experience consistently shows that Hope4Cancer patients experience visible improvements quality of life, even after their first treatment visit. In one study of 223 randomly selected patients across various diagnoses, more than 70% reported sustained or improved quality of life across four categories: functional, emotional, social, and physical measures. Notably, more than 80% of these patients were Stage IV, making the results especially meaningful.

Moving Forward – Data Collection

Despite the inherent limitations discussed above, we recognize the value of survival statistics and related information, and we are actively working towards being able to provide more detailed information in the future. In early 2021, Hope4Cancer launched an innovative and proprietary system to stay in touch with our patients, collecting information on a recurring basis throughout their one-year Home Program period and onward.

This system, named SPROUT, incorporates industry-standard and customized patient surveys to collect information on “Patient Reported Outcomes,” which includes the medical and quality of life results that our patients experience. SPROUT surveys, along with ongoing medical record audits, allow us to track our patients’ results more accurately over extended periods of time. This data is accessible to our medical team, which can aid them in tracking patient progress and providing helpful guidance when needed. We’re proud of this innovative system, as we’re one of the few, if not only, integrative cancer treatment centers in North America to track patient outcomes at this level.

Common Questions

Why are integrative therapies preferred, instead of conventional treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery?

Researchers have shown that the overall contribution to survival rates of toxic treatments, such as first-line and adjuvant chemotherapy is minimal (7); their simultaneous induction of toxicity has been compared to a “double-edged sword” (8). Stimulation of cancer stem cell activity (9-11), declining immunity (12), and induction of treatment resistance (13) remain significant problems in mainstream oncological therapies, as well. All these aspects disproportionately affect patients with advanced, metastatic cancers. Yet, the role of these treatments as the oncological standard of care remains largely unchallenged. That is why Hope4Cancer embraces integrative cancer therapies based on the 7 Key Principles of Cancer Therapy™, which provide a better opportunity for cancer patients to overcome the challenges of the disease.

Do you not recommend chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery at all?

While we prefer to focus on non-toxic, natural treatments for our patients, in some instances, it may become necessary to recommend targeted conventional approaches to accomplish specific goals. As an integrative cancer treatment center, we are equipped to provide chemotherapy (which we typically do in low doses), or refer patients to licensed providers who specialize in radiotherapy and surgery. Any conventional treatment recommendations are made in the patient’s best interest to improve their chances to survive and heal. Sometimes, the benefit from a conventional treatment can help us get the patient to where our non-toxic approaches can become more effective.

If I have early-stage cancer, would it be better for me to seek conventional treatments first?

Based on our statistics and clinical experience, the earlier you approach us, the better your chances of success. We also encourage you to weigh the consequences of side effects from conventional treatment approaches on your long-term well-being. If you have already received conventional treatments, a Hope4Cancer integrative treatment program is a great choice to help you reduce treatment-related toxicities and manage side effects. At the same time, you can strengthen your immune system to protect yourself from disease progression or recurrence.

If you have any questions, please feel free to request a free consultation with one of our patient counselors. Please be assured that we fully understand and respect that your treatment choice is your personal decision—our goal is simply to support your due diligence efforts with quality information and recommendations.

Disclaimer and Copyright Notice

The material on this webpage contains copyrighted information that may not be in any way—in whole or in part — copied, extracted, reproduced, posted, or published in any form of media without official written permission from Hope4Cancer, Ltd. (“Hope4Cancer”).

The information contained on this webpage is not presented with the intent to treat, diagnose, prevent, or cure any disease. Instead, we present this information solely with the purpose of educating readers about Hope4Cancer’s experience in treating patients with integrative cancer treatments at our Mexico treatment centers, and not with the intent of facilitating treatment decisions. You should not use it in lieu of the recommendations of your physician/health care provider, who you should consult for any personal health-related questions.

References:

1. National Cancer Institute. (2020, September 25). Cancer Statistics. Cancer Statistics. Retrieved July 6, 2022, from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/statistics
2. Stewart, S.L.; King, J.B.; Thompson, T.D. et al. (2004). Cancer Mortality Surveillance — United States, 1990-2000. MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 53(SS03), 1-108. Web: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5303a1.htm
3. Richardson LC, Wang W, Hartzema AG, Wagner S. The role of health-related quality of life in early discontinuation of chemotherapy for breast cancer. Breast J. Nov-Dec 2007;13(6):581-7. doi:10.1111/j.1524-4741.2007.00512.x
4. Henry NL, Azzouz F, Desta Z, et al. Predictors of Aromatase Inhibitor Discontinuation as a Result of Treatment-Emergent Symptoms in Early-Stage Breast Cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2012-03-20 2012;30(9):936-942. doi:10.1200/jco.2011.38.0261
5. Hershman DL, Kushi LH, Shao T, et al. Early Discontinuation and Nonadherence to Adjuvant Hormonal Therapy in a Cohort of 8,769 Early-Stage Breast Cancer Patients. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2010-09-20 2010;28(27):4120-4128. doi:10.1200/jco.2009.25.9655
6. Pan H, Gray R, Braybrooke J, et al. 20-Year Risks of Breast-Cancer Recurrence after Stopping Endocrine Therapy at 5 Years. New England Journal of Medicine. 2017-11-09 2017;377(19):1836-1846. doi:10.1056/nejmoa1701830
7. Morgan G, Ward R, Barton M. The contribution of cytotoxic chemotherapy to 5-year survival in adult malignancies. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). Dec 2004;16(8):549-60. doi:10.1016/j.clon.2004.06.007
8. Sulciner ML, Serhan CN, Gilligan MM, et al. Resolvins suppress tumor growth and enhance cancer therapy. J Exp Med. Jan 2 2018;215(1):115-140. doi:10.1084/jem.20170681
9. Lagadec C, Vlashi E, Della Donna L, Dekmezian C, Pajonk F. Radiation-induced reprogramming of breast cancer cells. Stem Cells. May 2012;30(5):833-44. doi:10.1002/stem.1058
10. Lagadec C, Vlashi E, Alhiyari Y, Phillips TM, Bochkur Dratver M, Pajonk F. Radiation-induced Notch signaling in breast cancer stem cells. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. Nov 1 2013;87(3):609-18. doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2013.06.2064
11. Lagadec C, Vlashi E, Della Donna L, et al. Survival and self-renewing capacity of breast cancer initiating cells during fractionated radiation treatment. Breast Cancer Res. 2010;12(1):R13. doi:10.1186/bcr2479
12. Chidambaram R, Terunuma H, Balamurugan M, et al. Cell-based immunotherapy in stage IIIA inflammatory breast cancer with declining innate immunity following successive chemotherapies: A case report. Mol Clin Oncol. Sep 2017;7(3):493-497. doi:10.3892/mco.2017.1333