»Conventional medicine« needs supplementation

Jutta Hübner is Professor of Integrative Oncology at the University Hospital. Her research work, extensive public relations activities and teaching programmes are ensuring that the treatment of cancer by way of »conventional medicine« and complementary medicine is becoming the standard. She values evidence-based knowledge and information for patients—rather than promises of salvation and charlatanism. With her »Stiftung Perspektiven« (»Perspectives Foundation«), she supports patients and their relatives in actively influencing the recovery process—for example by dancing.

By Angelika Schimmel

»Actually, I'm not really a morning person,« says Jutta Hübner with a smile and takes another sip of coffee. It's just after 8 am—and the interview for this portrait is not her first appointment of the day. Nevertheless, the Professor of Integrative Oncology sits wide awake in front of her computer, answering emails, researching, delving into scientific studies or discussing the latest findings in the current research project with her team. While her schedule is packed, Jutta Hübner remains attentive, focussed and thoughtful during the conversation, occasionally adding a question to her answer because she has a thought that needs to be included.

This reflection, enquiry and linking of knowledge from the most diverse areas is characteristic of her approach. After completing her studies and doctorate at Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf, she went on to specialize in internal medicine and worked at clinics in Remscheid, Kassel, and Freiburg. By then, Jutta Hübner had long since decided to specialize in oncology.

Alternative medicine is not an alternative

Curing cancer is not an easy task and doctors don't always win. »Every case of cancer is different, there is no one single therapy for everyone. But we do have much better options today than we did a few years ago,« says Jutta Hübner. In her search for ways to support patients in dealing with the disease, to strengthen them mentally and physically and to minimize the side effects of operations or chemotherapy, Jutta Hübner found what she was looking for in naturopathy, as well as in chiropractic and herbal medicine. She completed training courses, obtained a diploma in acupuncture as well as qualifying in nutritional counselling and palliative
medicine, completing a distance learning course in health economics and undergoing further training in psycho-oncology.

Jutta Hübner's path has taken her through many stages, from clinics to practice, rehabilitation centres and private clinics, from Bad Soden and Bonn to Frankfurt and Masserberg. Jutta Hübner can well imagine that for some people and viewed from the outside, her course in life may not seem very straightforward. For her, however, everything is logical and consistent. »When nothing new is possible, then it's the right time for a change,«—this mindset eventually led her to Jena.

Jutta Hübner qualified as a professor here in 2014, and when she accepted the endowed professorship for integrative oncology at the University of Jena in 2017, she not only returned to academia, but also grasped the opportunity to pass on her knowledge and enthusiasm to the younger generation of doctors. »Back then, there was nothing like this anywhere else at a German clinic,« she recalls, adding that in recent years, however, a lot has happened in the field of integrative oncology. Among other things, it incorporates findings from nutritional science, sports medicine, naturopathy, psychology and health communication.

Jutta Hübner knows that many people turn to alternative medicine in their search for gentle, natural treatment and healing methods. But for the oncologist, one thing is clear: there is no natural medicine that kills a tumour. Surgery, radiotherapy and drug-based tumour therapies are effective, while naturopathy and other so-called complementary disciplines offer tried and tested therapies and remedies that can help patients recover or alleviate the unpleasant side effects of treatment.

»There is, however, a lot of charlatanism in alternative medicine in this country. The effects of medicines and therapies are not scientifically proven or not sufficiently so. And yet belief in homeopathy, for example, is widespread in Germany and there are also numerous followers among medical practitioners.« The fact that even anthroposophical medicine, which incorporates supernatural aspects, has followers in this country almost leaves the eloquent doctor speechless. »We are the ›land of poets and thinkers‹, which has produced Nobel Prize winners and so many bright minds whose expertise is valued worldwide,« she says, shaking her head. »But perhaps that's our problem: critically scrutinizing and incorporating findings is not common practice everywhere in science in Germany.« 

And because she is vocal about this, some of those criticized react emphatically. Not only do they spread crude constructs by way of social media on how doctors are influenced by the pharmaceutical industry, she also has to fend off some attacks on a personal level. Nevertheless, she never tires of countering all this by way of her scientific approach. She does this, for example, in the Prevention and Integrative Oncology Working Group of the German Cancer SocietyExternal link and as a member of the German Medical Association's Drug CommissionExternal link. Jutta Hübner is also on the scientific advisory board for the investigative medium MedWatchExternal link, which takes a critical look at dubious promises of healing and misleading reports on medical topics.

»Instead of alternative medicine, we focus on complementary medicine—in other words, everything that patients can do themselves to supplement ›conventional medicine‹. This is because they can influence their own recovery with the help of nutrition, physical activity, natural healing methods, relaxation techniques, conversations, prayers and more.«

Dance as medicine and recipes for better communication

Jutta Hübner founded the »Perspectives Foundation«External link in 2017 to show cancer patients ways of coping better with their illness or living with cancer. One problem with modern medicine is that tumour diseases are highly individual, and the treatment options are multifaceted and lengthy. »Doctors often don't have time to explain everything to patients in detail,« as she relates. This makes it all the more important to provide information and offers of help so that patients and relatives are not taken in by false promises of cures and healing. This is where her foundation sees scope for action.

The »Perspectives Foundation« offers online lectures on various topics relating to tumour diseases, fact sheets on substances and applications—from aloe vera to germanium, Reiki, traditional medicine to incense, yoga, and zinc. The foundation also organizes communication seminars—and dance workshops.

The 62-year-old doctor's own experience also played a key role in this. »I used to play basketball and football when I was young, I ran and I also started ballet,« she says, »and I learned a lot about body awareness and body language.« Dancing has been her passion for years. »I can switch off and recharge my batteries on the dance floor,« says Jutta Hübner. Several hundred cancer patients who have taken part in the free dance workshops or scientifically supported dance projects that she organizes have already had this experience. Dancing works like a medicine. But it is not paid for by the health insurance companies as a rehabilitation service, which is why the »Perspectives Foundation« steps in here.

Jutta Hübner is often out and about on weekends, both for the foundation and for lectures. In Jena, which has been her home for longer than anywhere else, she enjoys exploring nature by bike or on foot. And the agile professor also makes use of the routes between the office and the lecture theatre, where she runs a part-time degree course for doctors, nurses and health managers in the field of integrative oncology, to top up her daily 10,000-step target. But now she's in a hurry. It's just before 9 am and the next appointment is already knocking on the door.