Here’s A Question We Get Asked A Lot: What Is Integrative Cancer Treatment?
We have written and talked about integrative oncology in the past, but we also get inquiries about a very closely related term: integrative cancer treatment.
If you break down the integrative oncology definition, you’ll find that they are very similar.
So, what is integrative cancer treatment?
Essentially, it refers to a holistic approach to treating cancer. It combines different healing modalities to treat a person.
It recognizes that the mind, body, and spirit are one. You cannot treat one while ignoring the rest. That is the nature of life itself. When you experience something, whether good or bad, it makes a holistic impact. The same holds true for disease. Most of the symptoms may manifest physically but it does not mean your mind and soul are unaffected.
Cancer, as we all know, is devastating. When you go through conventional forms of treatment like radiation and chemotherapy, the physical burden is aggravated. Naturally, it also takes a toll on the patient’s mental and emotional health.
A person undergoing cancer treatment requires more than just support for their physical needs. They also need other forms of therapies to support their mental and emotional needs.
This is what integrative cancer treatment does. It looks at the patient as a whole person and brings together different methods to provide the best possible tailor-fit treatment plan.
Integrative cancer treatment also delves into the roots of disease and teaches patients how to achieve long-term health and wellness.
Integrative Medicine For Cancer Treatment
Our approach is represented by three pillars of cancer treatment: 1.) Stop making cancer, 2.) Target cancer, and 3.) Enhance the immune system.
Stop making cancer. Targeted immune therapies can shrink or eliminate the tumors, but they cannot stop the cancer cells from coming back and wreaking havoc yet again. This is the reason behind the School of Health.
It was developed to help cancer-free patients keep it that way for years to come. It provides people with ongoing learning and training so they can live their lives with long-term vitality and health.
The therapies that we use to achieve this goal are designed to reduce metabolic stress and improve overall health, improve circulation of oxygen and nutrients, as well as detoxify the body.
Target cancer. We recognize that the tumor is part of the body, so we do not “go to war” with the tumor. We use a person-oriented approach. The goal is to eliminate the tumor while still allowing the patient to live a life as normal as possible.
We use metabolic therapies to target the cancer cells without damaging healthy cells, tissues, and organs.
Enhance the immune system. Oncoimmunology, or also called Immuno-oncology, is an emerging field of oncology that seeks to develop a heightened anti-tumor response for the immune system against molecules expressed by cancer cells.
This approach means we use therapies that awaken the immune system to do what it was naturally designed to do.
Traditional Healing Modalities Used In Integrative Cancer Treatment
- Ayurvedic medicine. This is an ancient Indian medical system and is also one of the world’s oldest. It is based on a natural and holistic approach to health that includes diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes.
- Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). TCM is also an ancient medical system that is based on the concept of Qi. This is the vital life force that surges through the body. Disease is believed to be caused by an imbalance of Qi, which is caused by changes in the ‘yin’ and ‘yang.’
- Botanical medicine. This is also called herbal medicine. As the name suggests, it is the use of plants to aid treatment and improve general wellness.
- Homeopathic medicine. Founded in Germany in the late 1700s, this medical system is anchored on the belief that the body can heal itself.
- High-dose Vitamin C IV. Vitamin C administered intravenously can reach higher levels in the blood compared to oral ingestion and has many health benefits.
- UBI (ultraviolet blood irradiation). This form of therapy uses UV energy to oxygenate the blood and inactivate toxins.
- Curcumin IV therapy. Curcumin is used in traditional Asian medicine to help treat many illnesses. It has antioxidant properties which can help reduce swelling and inflammation.
- B17 IV treatment. Vitamin B17 is used to refer to amygdalin, a chemical that can be transformed into the compound laetrile. Laetrile has been noted as effective against high blood pressure, cancer, and arthritis, among others
What Is An Integrative Medicine Doctor?
As the name suggests, it refers to a licensed and fully qualified doctor who practices the tenets of integrative medicine. They combine conventional medicine with other forms of evidence-based medical systems and therapies.
An integrative medicine doctor does not just focus on treating a patient’s symptoms or ailments. They seek to address the root cause of the health issue through a holistic view of each person.
When it comes to integrative cancer treatment, Dr. Thomas Lodi is a renowned expert. His treatments and approach to the integrative side of oncology have challenged and revolutionized the mainstream view of this field.
As an integrative medicine doctor, he also applies his experience in psychology and his background in philosophy to harness the untapped potential of different healing modalities in improving long-term patient outcomes.
He founded An Oasis of Healing in Arizona in 2005 which has provided hundreds of patients a second lease in life after their cancer diagnosis or unsuccessful conventional treatments.
Questions?
Email us at info@drthomaslodi.com for inquiries or book a consultation here.
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References:
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/ayurvedic-medicine-in-depth
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/chinese-medicine
https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-is-homeopathy
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/expert-answers/curcumin/faq-20057858