Integrative Medicine for Cancer

The term Integrative Medicine refers to combining modern Western medicine with the best of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). This allows a patient to draw from a wide range of healing philosophies both old and new. When Integrative Medicine is used with cancer treatment it is often intended to address the emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of health as well as the biological. Integrative Medicine is growing in popularity among cancer patients, fueling research on alternative treatments and Integrative Medicine. It is important to know the facts about Integrative Medicine therapies for cancer in order to distinguish effective treatment combinations from therapies that can be dangerous or ineffective.

How Can Integrative Medicine Help Cancer Patients?

Although alternative medicine cannot cure cancer, Integrative Medicine can help improve the quality of life for a cancer patient. Its focus is the total well-being of the patient and is person-centered, rather than disease-centered. These treatments do not aim to replace conventional treatments, but rather are used alongside conventional cancer treatments. Although physicians have been slow to recognize the benefits of Integrative Medicine, there is now more interest in using Integrative Medicine with cancer. Some cancer centers are now supplying information and resources for Integrative Medicine for patient use. These include Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and MD Anderson Cancer Center. Many centers are also carrying out research to determine which alternative treatments are most effective.

Some cancer centers are now hiring a team of alternative practitioners to work with the oncologist to help the patient. Dr. Lucille Marchland is an integrative and palliative medicine physician at the University of Wisconsin who oversees integrative medicine at the Paul P. Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center. She spends time with cancer patients to determine particular needs of each patient and then refers them to various alternative therapies ranging from yoga to acupuncture and meditation practices. Even if the patient is terminal, attention must be paid to body, mind and spirit. Having a physician oversee integrative medicine programs helps the patient to make decisions with greater confidence by interpreting the scientific information and decreasing anxiety.

For the cancer patient, integrative treatments can be aimed at improving overall health, preventing adverse effects between supplements and conventional treatments, decreasing overall side effects of conventional therapy, preparing a patient for surgery, and addressing the challenges of living with cancer.

What Are Some Integrative Treatments for Cancer Patients?

Mind-Body Medicine:
These therapies use the mind to help control and relax the body. Cancer patients often have to deal with a great amount of anxiety surrounding their diagnosis. Many therapies in this category have been found to reduce cancer-related pain and relieve emotional distress, which include:

• Biofeedback uses a monitoring device so help a person control certain physical parameters such as heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and muscle tension.
• Relaxation techniques can help a patient to better cope with side effects of cancer treatments that include nausea and pain.
• Prayer and spirituality in general can help a patient to be aware of something greater than the individual and can improve quality of life.
• Art therapy allows a patient to express their emotions that can release fear and anxiety. It can also be used as a distraction from discomfort.
• Hypnosis can help a patient develop a more positive attitude about treatment and reduce pain.
• Yoga can improve strength both physically and mentally, and help patients feel at peace.
• Group therapy or talking with others in a similar situation can help with depression, hopelessness, and improving social functioning.

Physical Manipulation:
Therapies that fall into this category involve movement of the body in some way. They include:

• Massage, which may reduce fatigue, anxiety, and nausea related to cancer treatments.
• Physical activity or exercise, which can help reduce fatigue and depression.

Energy Therapy:
This therapy focuses on energy fields of the body and includes:

• Acupuncture, which may reduce nausea and vomiting as well as alleviate pain.
• Therapeutic and healing touch, which can decrease anxiety and reduce pain.
• Reiki treatments, which use practitioner’s hands to transmit energy to the recipient, can relieve pain and nausea.
• Magnetic therapy, which uses magnets placed on the body to relive pain.

Nutrition/Herbs/Plant-Based Therapy:
This is probably the largest category of alternative treatments for cancer, as well as the best studied. Many plants and herbs have been found to be beneficial, especially in the prevention of cancer. In fact, several cancer treatments used by the Western medical system have their origins in plants such as taxol. Diet in general can also help the cancer patient live a more healthy life overall.

Some treatments in this category include:

• Five to nine servings a day of fruits and vegetables is recommended by several cancer organizations. Antioxidants found in plants include resveratrol from red grapes, selenium in garlic, beta carotene in carrots, vitamin C in bell peppers and strawberries, lycopene in tomatoes, and anthocyanins in berries, as well as an abundance of antioxidants in herbs such as oregano, rosemary, and parsley. Antioxidants can help stimulate cellular repair processes that can protect against cancer.

• Green tea and curcumin (from the spice turmeric) are two promising treatments in plant-based medicines. Both of these can be included in the diet on a regular basis.

• Immune-stimulating herbs such as Astragalus, Panax Ginseng, and Shiitake and Reishi mushrooms may provide benefit to cancer patients.

Alternative Medical Systems:
These include medical philosophies that arose separate from our current form of Western medicine. Although many treatments that fall into these categories are valid treatments and many involve herbs, some treatments incorporate metals and toxic compounds that could be harmful.

• Ayurveda is an Indian form of holistic medicine involving herbs, minerals, breathing, diet, purification, and yoga.
• Homeopathy is based on the “law of similars” and believes that substances that produce the symptoms of a disease can cure that disease if given in very diluted doses.
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes in harmony and balance in life. Many TCM treatments involve a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine.

Is Integrative Medicine Safe for Cancer Patients?

Any type of treatment a patient uses should be discussed with their physician. Patients should check to see if their treatment center has an integrative medicine program. These programs help the patient to review the various therapies that are safe to use with their other conventional treatment and guide patients through the scientific evidence allowing them to make the best choices based on their inner wisdom.

Additional Resources

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
National Cancer Institute
MD Anderson Cancer Center
American Institute for Cancer Research
University of Wisconsin Paul P. Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center