Private cancer clinics under fire: Anticancer Fund and De Tijd expose shady treatments
Brussels – The Anticancer Fund, in collaboration with the Belgian newspaper De Tijd, has uncovered alarming practices in private cancer clinics, where cancer patients are being charged tens of thousands of euros for unproven cancer treatments. The Anticancer Fund raised concerns about these dangerous practices to investigator journalists, to help protect cancer patients and fight misinformation.
At the Anticancer Fund, we regularly encounter patients seeking guidance on pseudo-scientific therapies. This prompted us to urge De Tijd to investigate and expose these cancer treatment practices. The findings, published last week, were the result of a collaboration between De Tijd, ZDF (Germany), El País (Spain), and Der Standard (Austria).
The reports have received widespread attention, with media across Europe covering the revelations. The Anticancer Fund has been featured in several newspapers, as well as on vrt and VTM.
Unproven cancer therapies target vulnerable patients
Immucura, a private clinic offering dendritic cell therapy to stimulate the immune system, has been charging Belgian and European patients large sums despite the lack of scientific evidence for the treatment’s effectiveness. The clinic has also refused to share key details about the therapy, raising serious concerns. Prominent cancer experts, including Professors Karim Vermaelen (UZ Gent) and Bart Neyns (UZ Brussel), have criticized Immucura for its misleading claims.
“These clinics capitalize on trends in cancer care, offering wellness-like services and accessibility that draw patients in. But they lack the scientific foundation to back their claims”, says Dr. Gabry Kuijten, Director Patient Information of the Anticancer Fund.
Protecting patients through reliable information
Misinformation in cancer care can have devastating consequences for patients—both medically and financially. To combat this, we offer My Cancer Navigator, a free service providing personalised information on cancer treatments. Our experts review therapies for their scientific validity and help patients make informed decisions.
“Raising awareness about these shady practices is vital to protect cancer patients from false hope and financial ruin", stresses Lydie Meheus, Managing Director of the Anticancer Fund.
Decision-makers take action
As a result of the media coverage, decision-makers at both national and European levels are now planning to address these issues and implement stricter regulations to protect cancer patients from misleading treatments.
Learn more and stay informed
Are you confronted with cancer and willing to know how to identify potentially misleading cancer treatments? Read our blog by Dr. Gabry Kuijten.
What changes are needed in the law to protect cancer patients? Read our blog by Lydie Meheus.
For more details, please visit our websites www.anticancerfund.org and www.mycancernavigator.org, for trusted information on cancer treatment options.