The Ultra-Orthodox Oncologist: "We Provide Four or Five Radiation Treatments, Pain-Free, and the Patient Leaves Healthy"

For decades, doctors around the globe have been trying to find cures and treatments for the terrible disease of cancer. An ocean of money and resources is invested in research and development of numerous experimental drugs, but who would have thought that one of the most significant developments in the field would be brought to Israel by an ultra-Orthodox Jew?

Meet Dr. Aharon Alon, an oncology specialist working at the Beilinson Hospital. Dr. Alon immigrated to Israel over a decade ago, and since 2009 he has brought a revolution in the field of radiation therapy, which spares many patients from surgeries and reduces the number of treatments required for other patients.

A Revolutionary and Innovative Method

When we talk to Dr. Alon, he first seeks to clarify just how groundbreaking the innovation is: "Until recent years," he recounts, "when a tumor of any kind was discovered inside the body, the doctors' primary goal was to eliminate the tumor at its location. The best option for elimination was usually through surgery. In surgery, the tumor was removed from the body, and then radiation treatments were given to ensure the tumor wouldn't return. In cases where surgery wasn't possible, radiation alone was used, sometimes in series involving dozens of treatments with severe side effects. Now, the new technology we offer can provide focused, precise radiation at a high intensity, making surgery unnecessary."

What types of cancer is the new technology suitable for?

"We treat prostate cancer patients, pancreatic cancer patients, and other types of cancers, but primarily this technology is applied to lung cancer patients. It's always exciting to see how cases where patients would have received thirty or forty treatments in the past, we can now cure with only four or five treatments, and the patient recovers and goes home. This treatment method can help in many cases, especially for patients who couldn't undergo surgery in the past, like older patients or when the tumor was in a sensitive area. Nowadays, we can eliminate the tumor as if we had surgically removed it, all without harming the patient."

Dr. Alon provides a concrete example: "Recently, we had an elderly patient with a lung mass, probably caused by smoking. Due to his age, we couldn't perform surgery, but thanks to the technology, we concluded the treatment within a few radiation sessions, all in a non-invasive way with almost no side effects."

Would you still recommend surgery in some cases?

"Of course. There are many cases where we would recommend surgery, but it would always be a second option. Today, almost all hospitals in the country have special tools to implement the new method, and whenever we can offer it to patients, doctors are very happy to do so. It improves quality of life, and in cases where no other treatment was possible, it can truly save a patient's life, helping many people fully recover from the disease."

We always heard that radiation is dangerous, yet these treatments involve so much radiation!

Dr. Alon responds with a question: "What about a knife? Isn’t it dangerous? If used incorrectly, it can harm, but if used properly, it poses no danger. The same goes for radiation; it does have effects and can destroy cells, but if applied correctly and focused, the tumor is destroyed without endangering the patient. Of course, if someone is exposed to radiation over a large area of the body, it can be dangerous, but like any medication, knowing how to direct it is crucial." He addresses patients directly: "If you are undergoing a professional treatment in capable hands, you can feel assured that the treatment has minimal side effects, you’ll hardly experience suffering, and in the vast majority of cases, there won’t be complications."

These good tidings, he notes, are visible in data: "In recent years, several studies on lung cancer have been conducted in European countries and the U.S., showing significant improvement in advanced lung cancer survival rates. This is due to the availability of this treatment, enabling patients who were too elderly or ill, receiving only palliative care before, now get healing for their disease, increasing overall survival rates."

The Best Advice: Stop Smoking

Using his position, Dr. Alon emphasizes that despite recent studies and advanced treatments, preventive treatment remains the most important and effective. "Stop smoking," he urges, "Nowadays, it’s known that the most significant factor in preventing lung cancer is quitting smoking. How much more evidence is needed when insurance companies always ask three main questions: ‘Are you male or female?’ ‘How old are you?’ and ‘Do you smoke?’ because this is the main cause of illness."

What do you say to those who argue there are many cancer patients who never smoked, while some smokers live healthy and happy lives?

"Indeed, and many people drive without seatbelts at excessive speeds and aren’t killed. This doesn’t prove it's not dangerous. I reiterate - smoking is the number one cause of cancer illness."

Understanding this led Dr. Alon to include addiction prevention in his medical role. Driven by a desire to help as many people as possible, he joined the ‘Shakuf’ organization, based on Rabbi Nachman of Breslov's teachings. "Entering ‘Shakuf’ workshops, I discovered a whole world of inner work," he shares, "So during that period, I also strengthened spiritually and learned the correct method to help people overcome addictions."

How does the method work?

"Our offered treatment method opposes views insisting that to help a patient or addicted individual, he must recognize and internalize his condition to help himself. According to the Jewish perspective, this is the opposite – a Jew isn't coincidentally sick, and everything can always change. Thus, the first principle I try to teach those coming to me with addiction issues is that they hold the key to their change, and they have the power to extract themselves from all their distresses."

Dr. Alon clarifies that he doesn’t refer only to smoking and drug addictions, but also to internet and site addictions, and much more. "Addiction is a very serious illness affecting our community, and I really want to reach out and help."

Does this relate to your professional role as a doctor?

"Even though I learned addiction treatment without any initial connection, it seems it does connect to the medical world. Always, at some point, when talking with addicts, we discuss health topics; it's inescapable. When discussing the immense damage they bring to their bodies with someone who knows firsthand, they gain a different perspective. Only then I approach using tools learned from the Torah and my rabbis to guide them step-by-step in quitting. Thank Hashem, the results are amazing, and a very high percentage truly connect to their inner desires and realize they can help themselves, and it happens."

On a personal note, Dr. Alon adds with emotion: "I feel that Hashem has given me a toolkit, and my mission is to use the abilities granted to me in the best possible way. If what is asked of me now is to help people, then I take this mission upon myself, because how could I not?"