Step 6: Support Body, Mind, and Spirit

Conventional Treatment for cancer is a triad that can include surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Most conventional therapies are designed for cure, though some are palliative and used to relieve pain and extend life.

Complementary and Alternative Treatment (CAM)

Complementary Medicine is meant to complement or be used in conjunction with conventional treatment.  Complementary Medicine is aimed at supporting the body, mind and spirit while undergoing conventional treatment.  Complementary therapies are particularly targeted at protecting the immune system against the destructive side effects of conventional treatment such as: nausea, fatigue, depression, sleep problems, anxiety, demoralization and pain.  Complementary therapies include such procedures as:

• Body work, which ranges across acupuncture, message , biofeedback

           chiropractic, Qi Gong, energy healing therapy and others

• Meditation, mindfulness and other relaxation approaches.
• Herbal supplements, teas and other natural (non-chemical) substances
• Music and art therapy
• Nutritional support
• And more

Complementary and Alternative Treatment (CAM)

Alternative Medicine is defined by The American Cancer Society as all those unproven methods that are offered as cures and are used instead of conventional therapies. These include such approaches as:

• Kelly Metabolic Therapy

• Vitamin C Therapy

• Oxygen Therapy

Integrative Medicine goes beyond Complementary and Alternative Treatments (CAM). It casts a wider net and combines conventional treatments with all other treatments that support mind, body and spirit and offsets the side effects of conventional therapies.  The case of Frank at the end of this step illustrates this approach.  Integrative Medicine adds to traditional treatment with such therapies as:

• Body work such as physical therapy, acupunture, massage, biofeedback, chiropractic

          QiGong, and energy healing therapy

• Meditation, mindfulness and other relaxation approaches
• Herbal supplements, teas ans other natural (non-chemical) substances
• Music and art therapy
• Nutritional support
• Spiritual Practice and Pastoral Counseling
• Psychotherapy/counseling, hypnosis and all OTC and prescribed medications indicated for the management of anxiety, depression, stress, sleep, fatigue, pain and nausea, which frequently accompany cancer and its treatments

We are proposing here that you consider an Integrative Medicine Program including putting together an Integrative Medicine Team with as few or as many of the practitioners described below as you wish to use.  You can choose betweenthe convenience of a:

• Hospital-based team

Or if you prefer the independence of customizing and individualing your care go with a

• Virtual team you hand-pick from amoung those practitioners recommend by your oncologist, other physician, cancer patient advocate and other trusted advisors.

Gathering the referrals as you go along and calling for appointments on an as-needed basis can help you feel in charge of your treatment and more comfortable with the people who treat you; Or compromise between the two with an

• Outside-the-hospital pain management or other similar group

Regardless of which form your Integrative Medicine Team takes, these are many of the practioners you will be looking for.  They will supplement your conventional Medical Team.  together, they will give the benefits of an Integrative Medicine Program, giving you the best chance for the best possible results and quality of life

• Acupuncturist
• Biofeedback specialist
• Chiropractic
• Clergy or other resources for spiritual practice or prayer
• Cognitive rehabilitation therapist (for chemotherapy side effects)
• Exercise trainer
• Herbalist
• Instructor of meditation or ohter relaxation technigues
• Massage therapist
• Nutritionist (special diets to support the immune function, offset rapid weight loss)
• Pharamacologist (pain, sleep, nausea, anxiety, depression and fatigue medication management)
• Physical therapist
• Physician who specializes in Complementary or Integrative Medicine
• Psychologist or Psychiatrist (including those who do hypnosis)