FIH doctoral researchers present at the German Cancer Congress 2026
Four posters, a pilot study on lung cancer detection by sniffer dogs, and intensive days of exchange with the oncology community.
We look back gratefully on the German Cancer Congress #DKK2026 and intensive days of exchange with the oncology community.
We were particularly pleased that our FIH doctoral researchers Charlene Menge, Charlotte Streffer and Alexander Krabbe were able to present their posters — an important step for early-career researchers and for the visibility of integrative oncology at Havelhöhe.
Charlene Menge showed that improvements in self-reported pain, burden and mobility problems in lung cancer patients were associated with a multimodal integrative therapy programme, and that quality-adjusted life years (QALY) were extended in this cohort. Charlotte Streffer presented data from the LUCIA study, showing that mindfulness-based receptive art therapy (metal colour light therapy) was associated with significant improvements in cancer-related fatigue and sleep disturbance in women with breast cancer. Alexander Krabbe reported results of a multimodal supportive and palliative programme (ACCEPT) for lung cancer patients.
Dr. Christian Grah from the hospital’s lung centre presented a pilot study on the early detection of lung cancer using dogs able to smell lung cancer. The project is being developed in cooperation with the CCCTIM at Charité (Prof. Seifert) and is to be transferred into a prospective study.
From the Oncology Network group, Dr. Anja Thronicke showed that during the pandemic the diagnosis of small-cell lung cancer was delayed, primary surgery significantly reduced and mortality increased — in large compared with small cities. The project is carried out in cooperation with the Brandenburg-Berlin Cancer Registry (KKRBB).
In our institution we practise evidence-based medicine with the aim of consistently placing patients at the centre. More than 70 % of oncology patients wish for integrative approaches — a need we continue to research on a sound scientific basis together with the next generation.
The congress showed once again: Havelhöhe is present, innovative and committed to developing integrative oncology step by step on an evidence base.