When your loved one is diagnosed with a serious illness like cancer, we try many other things along with Western medical treatment, right? Sometimes someone recommends a traditional medicine, a special diet, or a method that brings relief to the mind... These are what we commonly call 'holistic care'. But how good are these things? Are there any risks involved? Let's talk about this in more depth today.
What is Holistic Care?
Simply put, holistic care is about treating the mind, body, and spirit of the patient, rather than just treating the disease. This usually involves combining traditional medicine with complementary medicine, which is the treatment your doctor provides.
Think about it this way. Doctors give a cancer patient a treatment called `(Chemotherapy).` It destroys cancer cells. But it can have side effects like nausea, pain, and loss of appetite. At this time, doing something like acupuncture to control those side effects and relax the mind is called holistic care.
The most important thing is that this complementary treatment is done alongside the main treatment given by the doctor. It does not stop it.
What are the benefits of these complementary therapies?
Nowadays, many people are interested in things outside of Western medicine. Although these things cannot cure a disease like cancer, they can greatly help reduce the discomfort caused by treatment and improve the quality of life . Here are some methods that have been scientifically proven to some extent.
| Complementary therapy | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Acupuncture | A trained practitioner uses very fine needles to stimulate specific points on the body. This can help reduce things like pain and nausea. It can also help control dry mouth in people receiving radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. |
| Mind-body techniques | Meditation and hypnosis can help reduce stress and distract you from the pain. They can also help reduce the side effects of medications. |
| Exercise | Light exercise, as recommended by a doctor, can help reduce extreme tiredness, reduce stress, and improve sleep. Some studies have shown that cancer patients may live longer if they exercise regularly. |
| Nutrition care | You can talk to a qualified nutritionist to learn about the foods you need to get the nutrition you need, manage the side effects of treatment, and boost your body's immunity. |
The biggest risk: Confusing complementary and alternative therapies!
This is the most important and dangerous part of this article. Some people confuse Holistic Care with Alternative Care.
- Complementary treatments: These are done in conjunction with the main treatments (such as chemo, radiation, surgery) that your doctor gives you.
- Alternative treatments: These are done in place of the main treatment given by the doctor.
Do not, for any reason, stop taking the treatment prescribed by your doctor and pursue unproven alternative treatments, no matter what anyone says. This is very dangerous and risky.
Think of it this way. The medicine your doctor gives you is like a strong key on the main door of your house. The additional treatments are like small locks on the windows. It doesn't help to remove the key on the main door and just put a lock on the window, does it? Thieves can easily get in. Cancer is like that. If you stop the main proven treatment, you are only giving the disease more time to develop. Then the disease can become too severe to be cured.
There are other hidden risks!
Some complementary therapies can also be harmful to you.
- Cancer cure diets: These are not scientifically proven. They are also very expensive and can sometimes be harmful to the body.
- Some supplements: Some vitamins, herbal products, and other things you take can interfere with your cancer treatment. For example, antioxidants and St. John's wort can reduce the effectiveness of your cancer medications.
How do we choose wisely?
If you're considering using a food, medicine, supplement, or treatment method in addition to your main treatment, talk to your doctor first. Only he or she knows your condition and the medications you're taking best. That's the best way to ensure your safety.
Just because something is labeled "natural" doesn't mean it's good for you.
Before choosing a treatment, ask yourself these questions:
- Are you saying that this treatment will completely cure cancer? ( Stay away from anything that says that immediately! )
- Do cancer specialists recommend this treatment?
- Has this been proven successful in scientific trials using humans?
- Is this a globally accepted method? (If it really works and is safe, it should be popular among many people.)
- What are the possible side effects and problems with other medications?
How do you talk to your doctor?
You may be nervous about talking to your doctor about these things. You may be afraid of "what will he think?" But overcome that fear. He needs to be aware of everything you put into your body. He may be able to recommend a good complementary medicine practitioner (CAM practitioner) who is trained to work with cancer patients.
Use these tips to start a conversation with your doctor.
| What you need to do | The benefit of it |
|---|---|
| Make a list of questions you want to know about complementary therapies. | Seek help from a doctor to make safe and healthy decisions. |
| Get information (from a reliable source - e.g. a medical journal, a government health website) about the treatment you are thinking of trying. | To give the doctor a clear picture of your idea. |
| If you are considering stopping or postponing major treatment, be honest about it. Ask about the pros and cons. | Although the decision is yours, be aware of the risks. |
| If the side effects of treatment are a big problem for you, tell them how important it is to you to control them. | Ask your doctor about ways to manage side effects without medication. |
Take-Home Message
- Holistic care, or complementary care, is something that is done in addition to the main treatment provided by your doctor. It is not a substitute for main treatment.
- Never stop or delay prescribed treatment without your doctor's advice. It may worsen the condition.
- Don't assume that just because something is called "natural" it's safe. Even some herbal supplements can interfere with your main treatments.
- Be sure to inform your doctor about any supplements, foods, vitamins you are taking, or any treatments you are trying.
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