Complementary Therapies and Traditional Oncology by David A. Shapiro and Mike Safer, M.D. Association of Community Cancer Centers. Patients spend more money for non-traditional cancer treatments than for non-traditional treatments for all other diseases and conditions combined. Studies have shown that many patients with cancer are already using and paying out-of-pocket for non-traditional complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies because these therapies are reported to work harmoniously with traditional oncology treatments, can relieve some of the side effects of chemotherapy and surgery, boost the immune system, and relieve stress. Patients with cancer say that using CAM therapies can actually empower them to take charge of their treatment and cope with the difficult circumstances the disease imposes on their families and their lives, and studies have found that both patient satisfaction and patient/doctor communications improve when CAM therapies are used. Although a survey showed that 83 million Americans (40 percent of the U.S. population) are using some form of alternative medicine therapies on a regular basis, only about half the patients said they discussed such treatment with their doctors3 because they thought their doctors would react negatively. Contrary to popular opinion, most patients who use CAM therapies are not seeking an alternative to traditional medical treatment, and would prefer to have all their treatment under the supervision of one physician. In response to patient requests, a number of private oncologists and hospital cancer clinics are starting to integrate CAM therapies into their practice. These practitioners are usually happy to let people know that CAM therapies are available to their patients, and asking some simple questions when you first call a clinic or doctor’s office will enable you to find such a practice near you. CAM therapists commonly work with patients just prior to, just following, or even while they are receiving their traditional treatment. Since most therapies are provided without any special preparation, such as hospital admission or procedural preps, they do not have to be delivered in special rooms. Doctors should research the credentials of someone giving CAM therapies in their facility as rigorously as those of any other professional they hire to give direct patient care, and patients should make sure that their doctors have done their homework on the CAM therapists that were hired before they receive CAM treatments. Although patients will likely have to pay for these therapies out of their own pocket, some insurers may be willing to reimburse patients if they receive CAM treatment in a doctor’s office. THE OFFICIAL ATTITUDE The medical community is starting to take notice of these complementary and alternative approaches to care, and more holistic treatments are now part of the standard curriculum at a number of medical institutions. Questions that patients were never asked before (such as whether they experience high or low stress, eat a high- or low-quality diet, exercise seldom or regularly, and have poor or healthy social relationships) are now becoming part of intake exams. Even the U.S. government is recognizing the paradigm shift in both the medical community and the general population and is making major changes in its spending patterns. The original 1992 budget of $2 million for the National Institute of Health’s Office of Alternative Medicine was recently increased to $89 million in 2001, and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) was established in the year 2000, with well-respected virologist Stephen E. Straus, M.D., as its director. NCCAM’s mission is to research the safety and validity of complementary therapies. It is in good company. Many highly acclaimed American universities¾Duke, Johns Hopkins, and UCLA among others¾have become involved in some type of complementary medicine research, the results of which are being put into practice at progressive facilities, including the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Institute, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and the M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Center. POPULAR COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES The following is a brief overview of the complementary therapies most commonly requested by cancer patients to manage the symptoms and side effects of their treatment. INDIVIDUAL THERAPIES · Acupuncture is a component of traditional Chinese medicine that involves inserting very thin needles through the skin into energy "meridians" to bring the body’s energy fields back into balance. The National Institutes of Health recently released a general statement saying that acupuncture may be effective for chemotherapy-induced nausea and postoperative pain.9 The procedure has few side effects. Individual sessions can last up to an hour, or be simple treatments in the infusion center to deal with nausea before, during, or after a chemotherapy session. · Massage therapy can promote relaxation, ease stiff joints, and improve mobility and flexibility. Sessions range from 15 minutes to a full hour. · Reiki (pronounced "ray kee") is a form of spiritual healing, reportedly from the Tibetan Buddhist religion, that was brought to the West in the late 1800s. Reiki practitioners rebalance and replenish the "life energy" in energy-poor areas of the body. The patient is fully clothed during the treatment session and is usually sitting up. Sessions last half an hour or less. · Reflexology is based on the premise that putting pressure on specific nerve reflex points in the hands, feet, and ears that correspond to other areas of the body can stimulate the body’s natural healing powers in those areas. Lesser ailments such as headaches, nausea, and allergy attacks are amenable to reflexology. Sessions range from 10 minutes to a full hour. · Therapeutic touch is based on the belief that the body has unique energy fields, defined in terms of quantum physics. The practitioner’s hands are used to rebalance disruptions in the flow of energy, stimulate healing, increase well-being, and decrease pain. Therapeutic touch is taught in more than 80 North American colleges and is widely practiced by nurses in many American hospitals to supplement conventional treatment. GROUP THERAPIES · Guided imagery uses the imagination to help people cope with stress and activate the body’s self-healing processes. Recent research has shown that harnessing the power of the imagination can positively affect bodily functions and boost the immune system. Practitioners can conduct guided imagery sessions individually or in groups. Often tapes of guided imagery practices or music accompany a session. Sessions last from 20 minutes to an hour. · Qigong (pronounced "chee gong") is an ancient Chinese system of movement, breathing techniques, and meditation designed to develop and improve the circulation of qi (chee, or life energy) around the body. Qigong is taught to groups, although individual sessions for people with special needs can easily be accommodated. Many wheelchair users are part of ordinary Qigong classes in China, and are considered as adept at the practice as the more able-bodied participants. Classes last up to an hour. · Yoga has grown in popularity in the West as a form of exercise and relaxation. Yoga is usually done in classes on the floor, with the students sitting or lying or pillows or mats. David Shapiro, D.C., is a speaker, writer, and consultant. He is the founder of The Integrative Advantage in Atlanta, Ga., which provides turn-key complementary medicine programs that can be integrated into traditional oncology settings. Mike Safer, M.D., is a radiation oncologist with more than 25 years of practice experience. He is the director of two cancer centers in the Southeast and a member of The Integrative Advantage team. Thanks to: Breast Cancer News is brought to you by BREAST CANCER OPTIONS, part of the Mid Hudson Options Project, a grassroots Breast Cancer Health Advocacy, Support and Activist Group. Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.