Importance Of Integration In Oncology!

Cancer is one of the most dreaded diseases and the second leading cause of deaths globally. Cancer can affect anyone, irrespective of age and sex. Certain types of cancer affect specific parts or organs of the body – lung cancer, kidney cancer, colon cancer and prostate cancer. A more severe form of cancer is blood cancer, the survival rate for which is relatively low.

Symptoms of cancer are often debilitating and interfere with one’s day-to-day activities. If the signs are detected in the initial stage, treatment may yield favourable results. However, in most cases, the disease is diagnosed in its advanced stage. This makes treatment difficult and less effective.

Conventional Cancer Treatment V/s Integrated Care

Conventional treatment methods such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and others aim to cure the disease by killing the cancer cells or tumours. While chemotherapy involves injecting drugs into the bloodstream, radiation therapy works by directing high-intensity X-ray beams towards the cancer cells. Nevertheless, such aggressive procedures often result in complications and side effects following the treatment – fatigue, infection, bleeding and bruising, to name a few. Moreover, the results do not guarantee complete healing despite multiple sessions.

Integrated Oncology, on the other, combines conventional treatment with alternative and complementary medicine to promote healing in cancer patients. The aim is to cure the person as a whole instead of treating the disease alone. Doctors are focusing on non-invasive treatment methods like HIFU or High Intensity Focused Ultrasound, mistletoe therapy, artesunate, and a high dose of Vitamin C through various mechanisms to hinder the growth of tumours and cancerous tissues and prevent them spreading beyond the cancer site. These are recommended in addition to chemo and radiation. This increases one’s chances of recovery and survival significantly. Benefits of Integrated Oncology

The advantages of integrated oncology over conventional treatment methods are many.

• Better chances of recovery

• Higher rate of survival

• Fewer side effects and complications

• Holistic treatment approach

Integrated oncology is a type of palliative care – helps you deal with the grave disease both physically and emotionally. It promotes overall healing, reduces cancer-related symptoms, and improves one’s quality of life. Speak with an oncologist about the various aspects of the treatment and live a better life.