A pharmacologist advises how to wisely prepare for the fight against cancer. Here are some recommendations:

• We need to prepare wisely to fight cancer, relying on evidence-based knowledge, not myths, said Leszek Borkowski, Ph.D., during the 15th Summer Oncology Academy.
• Before starting oncological treatment, you should not lose weight using pharmacological agents, because after the therapy is administered, it will not be known what happens to the patient due to drug interactions - he explained
• We recommend that patients do not use any immune boosters, as human immunity cannot be strengthened, only weakened. Patients should also avoid dietary supplements or Tibetan or Mongolian medicine, etc., he pointed out.
• Anyone facing a planned hospital stay and cancer treatment should speak with their doctor about the vaccination schedule they need. Their life may depend on it, he added.

"Myths in medicine have always existed, are still there, and will continue to exist. However, according to a European Commission report published in 2025, Poles believe them more often than other Europeans. For example, 45% of respondents believe that a cure for cancer already exists but is being hidden by pharmaceutical companies . It may sound unbelievable, but it's true. I encounter such patients myself," said Leszek Borkowski, Ph.D. , a clinical pharmacologist and president of the Razem w Chorobie Foundation, during the 15th Summer Oncology Academy.

Therefore, as he pointed out, as part of pre-hospital care, it is necessary to talk to patients and, as part of the recommendations, draw their attention to various threats.

"The first thing to consider are early symptoms, which can vary, but should always be associated with the consideration that it's worth getting a diagnosis. If they include reflux, belching, or heartburn, testing for stomach cancer should begin. If the patient has been bothered by a cough, recurrent bronchitis or pneumonia, hoarseness, or shortness of breath on exertion for several months, they should be screened for lung cancer or hematological malignancies," the expert noted.

He added that patients also need to be talked to about false negative results.

"Let me give you an example. If we rely solely on Pap smears to diagnose cervical cancer, we'll miss precancerous conditions and cancer in about 30% of cases. Therefore, initial diagnosis must include various techniques, and patients should be aware of this," said Dr. Borkowski.

"Human immunity cannot be strengthened with preparations"

"In our pre-hospital recommendations, we encourage patients preparing to begin therapy to follow a light diet, but we also make it clear that we do not recommend weight loss with pharmacological agents . If such medications are used, the pharmacist will not know what is happening to the patient after administering the therapy due to drug interactions," he emphasized.

He also pointed out that teeth should be treated before starting cancer therapy , as even minor carious lesions can result in a lack of response to medications and essentially preclude their administration. Dead teeth, on the other hand, pose a risk of complications during treatment, so they should be extracted beforehand. Any inflammatory changes can progress to an acute phase during treatment with medications that suppress the immune system.

" We recommend that patients not use any immune boosters , because human immunity cannot be strengthened; it can only be weakened. Any messages claiming otherwise are false," the pharmacologist pointed out.

"Another recommendation is to avoid using any dietary supplements or Tibetan, Chinese, Indian, Mongolian, etc. medicines. Suffice it to say that people in Mongolia and Tibet use these preparations because, firstly, they have nothing else, and secondly, they have a different genotype and a different diet. We also recommend that patients avoid using potions prepared by neighbors and friends, and don't listen to health advice given by celebrities," he explained.

Vaccination before therapy. "It's a fight for life"

As he noted, the issue of reduced immunity as a result of anticancer therapy is also important.

" Oncological treatment activates pathogens in the body . Anticancer drugs can stimulate pneumonia, staphylococcal bacteremia, shingles, etc. At the same time, treating infections during therapy is difficult due to drug interactions ," said Dr. Borkowski.

"Therefore, anyone facing a planned hospital stay and cancer treatment should speak with their doctor about the vaccination schedule . This should be done relatively early, as the entire process must be spread out over time, which requires organization. However, it's worth the effort, because we're fighting for our lives," the pharmacologist emphasized.

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