Treating the whole person

Enlist the forces of mind, body, and spirit to energize the process of healing.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, chances are you want to use every resource at your disposal to overcome it. That means working with a wide range of specialists who can help you make informed decisions about your treatment, and who will support you on a variety of fronts — medical, nutritional, physical, psychological, and spiritual.

Your oncologist may have talked to you about conventional treatment options, such as radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, or hormone therapy.

But perhaps you’d also like to explore complementary therapies, such as nutrition and naturopathic medicine, in addition to conventional treatment. Some studies suggest that augmenting your cancer care with non-invasive and natural therapies under the direction of qualified practitioners can enhance your treatment and improve your quality of life.

An individual approach

Finding the right healthcare facility and care providers may be one of the first and most challenging steps in your treatment.

You’ll want to find a team who has expertise treating your type of cancer and offers access to the most recent technology in the treatments you need.

If you want to bring additional tools to bear in your fight against cancer, it’s also important to look into facilities providing integrated services across the broad spectrum of healing disciplines — from nutritional support and supplementation to spiritual and psychological counseling. Truly integrative care facilities encourage their specialists to collaborate across disciplines to help you develop a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to your individual needs. This approach not only gives you the confidence of knowing that you and your caregivers are doing everything possible to overcome the cancer — it can also give you the best chance at recovery.

Otherwise, you may have to identify qualified practitioners on your own and take the lead in coordinating your care between your doctors and other healthcare providers. This means that they may not be working together as effectively as they could on your behalf.

One size doesn’t fit all

Some complementary therapies help improve your overall health. Others work in individual, tumor-specific, treatment-specific ways to fight a particular type of cancer. Or they may work together with a specific conventional treatment to enhance its effectiveness or relieve a certain side effect.

For instance, green tea may increase the effectiveness of certain chemotherapy drugs, while people undergoing radiation therapy may benefit from melatonin supplements.

But some supplements, such as St. John’s Wort, can interfere with conventional therapies or even have dangerous interactions when taken incorrectly or in particular combinations. So it’s important to work with licensed practitioners who are communicating with your oncologist about your treatment.

The full complement

There are a variety of scientifically based complementary therapies that can benefit people with cancer.

Nutrition: A healthful, varied diet can improve your response to treatment and bolster your immune system.

Naturopathic medicine: Naturopathic physicians use foods, supplements, plant-based substances, and traditional therapies to complement conventional treatment and restore the body’s natural ability to heal itself.

Mind-body medicine: Counseling, psychotherapy, and relaxation techniques can help you cope with the emotional and psychological effects of cancer.

Spiritual support: Connecting to your spiritual side through prayer and meditation can give a greater sense of hope, strength, and wellness.

Physical and rehabilitation therapy: Gentle exercise can protect your cardiovascular health, muscle mass, and flexibility during treatment and help you heal faster.