PHYSICAL
ONCOTHERMIA
INTRAVENOUS VITAMIN C
OZONE THERAPY
Complementary medicine provides symptomatic support and improves quality of life.
Integrative oncology combines conventional medicine with complementary medicine. Specifically, with therapies that have demonstrated a benefit for the patient as an effective complementary treatment.
This is why the global vision of the oncology patient requires physical and psycho-emotional care. That is, body, mind and spirit. Thus, complementary medicine techniques improve the quality of life, and can help the patient’s survival.
In the United States, the integration between conventional and complementary medicine is very important. As a result, more than 50% of cancer patients combine their cancer treatment with complementary treatments. Among others, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. It promotes and researches complementary medical therapies.
Objectives
It is important to highlight that Integrative Oncology aims to:
- eliminate the disease (whenever possible)
- reduce the side effects of treatments
- boost the immune system
- avoid malnutrition (caused by the disease, chemotherapy, …)
- improve the quality and lengthen the patient’s life.
Type of therapies
In summary, among the different complementary therapies most commonly used, there are three main approaches:
NUTRITIONAL
PSYCHOSOMATIC AND PSYCHOEMOTIONAL SUPPORT
ORTHOMOLECULAR SUPPLEMENTATION
PHYTOTHERAPY
PSYCHOLOGICAL
PSYCHOSOMATIC AND PSYCHOEMOTIONAL SUPPORT
MEDITATION
RELAXATION THERAPIES
Finally, all complementary therapies that are part of Integrative Oncology should be performed under medical supervision. Because, some complementary health approaches can help people manage cancer symptoms. In addition, they can also lessen the side effects of treatment.
However, some approaches may interfere with conventional cancer treatment. So, it is important to avoid possible adverse reactions or side effects.
References
