Alternative Cancer Treatments
To Learn More About This Topic: Chat with Us | Email Us
At Cancer Treatment Centers of America, we're committed to providing you with a number of complementary or alternative cancer treatments as part of our integrative, total approach to cancer care. When used alongside or in conjunction with traditional therapies such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or surgery, alternative cancer treatments can be powerful components in your holistic treatment program. Alternative cancer treatments can reduce the severity of the side effects often experienced from conventional methods; in addition, they may help reduce stress, increase the effectiveness of the immune system, increase the effectiveness of conventional treatments, and help the patient recover and maintain their normal quality of life.
Alternative Cancer Treatments Available from CTCA
Nutritional therapy and support assists you in establishing a healthy diet that will last throughout your cancer treatment and beyond. One of CTCA's experienced nutritionists will work with you to develop a plan that will help you maintain your strength, and is an important part of your complementary or alternative breast, prostate, lung, or other cancer treatment program. Nutritional therapy consists of four components:
- Assessment - Assessment includes blood tests, a complete medical and nutritional history interview, a computerized diet profile, and body measurements to help the nutritionist understand your body's unique nutritional needs;
- Diet - A registered dietitian will develop an individual meal plan based on your needs;
- Supplementation - We'll provide nutrients to address deficiencies or to augment your diet plan;
- Education - Nutritional education is key is maintaining a lifelong plan.
A valuable component in our suite of alternative cancer treatments, naturopathic medicine is based upon the philosophy that your body has the inherent ability to establish, maintain, and restore health. Our therapists incorporate natural therapies of many different healing traditions used in cultures around the world. Among many other available therapies, CTCA's naturopathic medicines include botanical medicine, and physical medical therapies like massage.
Mind-body medicine, or psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), recognizes and strengthens the influence of the mind on the body and immune system. Mind-body medicines offered at Cancer Treatment Centers of America include stress management techniques, relaxation education, individual and family counseling, and humor therapy, among many others.
Spirituality is an integral part of the lives of many people, and is an essential component in our offering of alternative cancer treatments. Current research indicates a strong relationship between good spiritual health and good spiritual health, regardless of a person's faith. If requested, a member of CTCA's spiritual care staff visits every new patient within the first 48 hours of their admittance. Once the patient's spiritual wants and needs are fully assessed, we offer a number of ongoing spiritual resources in our facilities, many of which involve the patient's loved ones.
The professionals at Cancer Treatment Centers of America are profoundly aware that most patients with advanced cancer will experience pain sometime during the course of their disease and treatment, and that unrelieved pain and its effects on a person's quality of life can hamper treatment and recovery. Cancer pain generally involves acute pain, which is usually limited in scope and directly related to tissue damage, and/or chronic pain, which is a far more complex and persistent (three months or more) condition. The causes of pain can be due to many factors, including the disease's progress, its location, and the type of treatment methods being used. As one of our alternative cancer therapies, effective pain management consists of pharmacological methods (the use of analgesics), and non-pharmacological methods that help you reduce and manage pain, including behavioral techniques, radiation, and palliative surgery.
Your level of physical fitness can directly impact both your overall health and health during the course of cancer treatment. With increased physical fitness comes a reduction in stress, less fatigue and weakness, and an overall improvement in your quality of life. Our expert physical therapists work with you to improve your cardiovascular functioning, your flexibility, and strength. Occupational therapists can assist with the resumption of everyday tasks, and speech therapists work with patients on any speaking difficulties resulting from cancer or its treatment.
Image enhancement helps reduce the impact of some of the physical effects of cancer and its treatment. Our cosmetic image enhancement team assists both women and men with image issues due to radiation and chemotherapy, and our staff of plastic and reconstructive surgeons work directly with our surgical oncologists, often performing reconstruction during or immediately after surgery when possible.
This is only a partial list of the extensive selection of alternative cancer treatments available from CTCA. In order to fully treat your mind, body, and spirit, our treatment team will work with you and your family to build an individualized, holistic program consisting of the appropriate conventional therapies and a number of complementary and alternative cancer treatments.
If you have questions or would like further information about how CTCA's complementary or alternative cancer treatments can perform a vital role in your holistic cancer treatment program, please don't hesitate to contact our Oncology Information Specialists. You can contact the OIS team either via online chat, e-mail, or phone at 1-800-615-3055, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Additional Cancer Information and Resources
Don't miss this additional information. Click on the links to the right to learn more about the alternative cancer treatments offered by CTCA, or call 1-800-615-3055 to discuss your treatment options with one of our Oncology Information Specialists.
