For many patients, cancer treatments can bring about significant side effects that impact quality of life. These unfortunate, severe side effects may disrupt a patient’s ability to complete planned treatments, thus lessening the effectiveness of the overall approach to a patient’s cancer care and recovery.
Integrative medicine therapies can be a terrific value for these patients to counteract any discomfort and restore their whole health, without the risk of additional medication interactions and side effects.
Integrative Medicine Complements Cancer Care
Evidence-based resources that complement cancer treatments help improve your quality of life during and after treatment. Functional and integrative medicine enhances traditional medicine in assisting with emotional well-being and managing side effects from chemo and radiation therapies.
Integrative medicine offers an array of therapies including:
“We can provide acupuncture treatments and education on essential oils, mindfulness and movements to help cancer patients,” explained Dawn Flickema, MD, a physician of integrative medicine at Avera Functional & Integrative Medicine in Sioux Falls, SD. “Integrative medicine approaches help manage more common side effects such as nausea, constipation, diarrhea, hot flashes, headaches, musculoskeletal pain, sleep disruptions, stress and moods.”
Getting Started
Patients undergoing cancer treatments can seek consultation with a physician regarding applications of internal medicine tools to alleviate uncomfortable side effects.
With some integrative medicine tools, like mindfulness and essential oils, patients apply these at home after instruction at a consultation. Return appointments for acupuncture are available to be scheduled to coincide with cancer treatment dates to help directly avert the side effects in a timely manner.
“We have found that clinically 80% of patients who have acupuncture find it adequately counteracts side effects of cancer treatment. The addition of internal medicine therapy helps make people feel better,” Flickema said.
A decrease in side effects improves your overall sense of well-being. If that well-being allows successful completion of cancer treatments, you can see why it’s an important consideration.
Evidence-Based Remedies for Relief
When you or someone you love has acute symptoms of side effects, integrative medicine can bring relief with some patients seeing results within the first few treatments. These services are offered by telemedicine at certain locations. Talk to your care team to see options that could work for you.
Contact your health insurance agency before receiving treatment to see if your plan covers integrative medicine appointments.
Learn more about functional and integrative medicine services at Avera.
