Integrative Cancer Care: The Key to Healing the Whole Person
Dealing with cancer head-on is a multifaceted challenge. Thankfully, you can get support from a local holistic provider who can provide natural, evidence-based therapies. While dealing with the stress and side effects of traditional cancer treatments, it’s important to maintain other aspects of your health to keep up the fight. That’s where integrative oncology comes in.
Integrative cancer support involves taking care of the whole person, not just eradicating the cancer cells. While integrative oncology is not a cure, the methods and therapies involved in this approach can help you combat your post-treatment symptoms and help you maintain your dignity throughout your healing journey.
What Is Integrative Cancer Care?
Integrative cancer care is part of holistic medicine, which is patient-centered. With this in mind, you’re entitled to cancer care from an integrative physician near you that combines your conventional treatments with therapies and counseling that support your physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being. For example, natural therapies like IV infusions can help you alleviate the fatigue and other side effects that come with chemotherapy or radiation treatments.
Integrative oncology is not just about treating the disease and its symptoms. It’s about improving your overall quality of life. This holistic approach addresses all aspects of your well-being, not just the cancer.
How Integrative Cancer Care Works
The first step in integrative oncology involves establishing a partnership with your local holistic medical provider. As part of your care team, your integrative specialist will get to know you, become familiar with your case, note your symptoms and drug side effects, and help you clarify your health goals. With these insights, your doctor will work with you to construct a whole-body care plan that meets your needs.
With integrative oncology, you are not just a patient, but a partner in your own care. You can shape your treatment plan, and your insights and preferences matter. You have the right to ask questions and make decisions about the therapies that will be part of your care. This empowerment can bring a sense of control and confidence in your journey.
Your healthcare provider can recommend one or more natural therapies based on your specific type of cancer and symptoms. Given that conventional treatments may not provide relief from the nausea and other medication side effects, you may ask your doctor about any of the following:
- Acupressure for fatigue often associated with breast cancer
- Acupuncture for many side effects from standard of care treatment
- Herbal supplements like vitamin B complex, bergamot, and others to cope with depression or anxiety and promote healthy sleep
- Aromatherapy from fragrant oils to reduce pain, stress, and nausea
- Intravenous (IV) treatments like local vitamin C infusions to support chemotherapy recovery
- Deep-tissue massage to promote relaxation and reduce pain and nausea
- Exercise plan to improve range of motion, decrease stress, and preserve physical function
Consider taking your integrative cancer care to the next level with holistic nutrition guidance. No matter your medical status, your health begins in the kitchen. A well-balanced diet can do wonders during and after oncology treatment. It helps you make the most of your recovery and can even reduce your risk for cancer recurrence. A nutrition counselor can help you set some dietary goals and create a plan to help you meet them.
Total Well-Being Through Integrative Cancer Care
At Blatman Health and Wellness Center, we want to help you be more than just a cancer patient. Even when you’re going through your grueling treatments, you deserve to live well, manage your stress in healthy ways, and maximize your quality of life. With integrative cancer care, our providers can recommend holistic therapies and consultations that suit your needs and preferences. Call us today to learn how we can support your treatment and recovery.
