What is integrative oncology?
It is a medicine focused on cancer patient that provides, together with conventional treatments for cancer (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other), the combined use of various non-conventional health methodologies (natural products and / or lifestyle changes , mental and bodily practices, etc). Integrative oncology aims to optimize health, quality of life and clinical results during all the period of cancer treatment and offers people the means and the knowledge to prevent cancer and become active participants before, during and after cancer treatment .
(For a detailed definition of integrated Oncology: doi: 10.1093 / jncimonographs / lgx012).
It is not alternative medicine: non-conventional treatments are not and should not be used instead of conventional treatments but must work side by side to cure the patient with everything that is available.
It is a scientifically valid medicine and is supported by numerous studies published in national and international peer-reviewed journals.
What is the purpose of integrative oncology?
The use of integrative therapies, which is good to repeat that provides the association of conventional and non- conventional medicine, has the purpose to prevent relapses, enhance the effectiveness of conventional therapies and reduce the collateral effects that make the management of conventional cancer treatments very difficult; in fact, conventional therapy is often suspended or delayed due to the strong discomfort that appears.
The purpose of integrative oncology is to provide support to the classic anticancer therapies, help the patient and improve his quality of life.
What are the benefits of non-conventional therapies used in integrative oncology?
- They can help the patient at any stage of the disease, from diagnosis to follow-up
- They reduce post-operative disorders
- They reduce side effects such as nausea, vomit, diarrhea, constipation and asthenia
- They provide support for the immune system
- They helps to counter anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia
- Thery provide psychological support
Is it necessary to consult a doctor?
Before undertaking an integrative path, it is always necessary to consult a healthcare professional who in specialised in integratetive therapies, because some of these treatments could interfere with current conventional therapies or could not be suitable for the patient or for a particular clinical situation.
Are non-conventional therapies the same for everyone?
No, they are personalized therapies. Each patient needs a specific therapy that varies according to the clinical case, the drug therapy that is being done, the type of pathology, the presence of other concomitant diseases and the lifestyle.
For this reason it is very important to consult a figure specialized in integrative oncology, because only this specialist will be able to direct the patient towards the most appropriate integrative therapy.
