Female Speaker: I was 44 at the time of diagnosis. I said, oh, I don't have breast cancer, do I? And he said, yeah, you absolutely do.
Host: A diagnosis of cancer conjures thoughts of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, but doctors are learning it's important not just to treat the disease but the physical and emotional side effects as well. This can involve a range of therapies from natural medicines to complementary treatments that battle effects of cancer.
Male Speaker: I was pretty sure I had cancer.
Female Speaker: They came back, that it was cancer.
Female Speaker: That was a total surprise. I didn't expect that at all.
Male Speaker: I knew the complications of chemotherapy and radiations.
Male Speaker: The side effects which can be so bad.
Host: Depending on the type and stage, cancer can be treated with drugs, surgery, and radiation.
Dr. Timothy Birdsall: Oftentimes, patients look to natural therapies as a way to regain some part of control.
Host: A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that 69% of cancer patients had used at least one complementary or alternative therapy as part of the treatment.
Dr. Ed Staren: Complementary therapies allow the body to utilize many of its own mechanism, some of which maybe deficient because of the cancer.
Host: There is an important but.
Dr. Ed Staren: They also have their negative effects and if that's not known to the physician that can have dire consequences for the patient.
Host: Though with proper supervision, integrating natural medicine, not in place of, but in conjunction with conventional therapy can fight side effects, provide disease-fighting nutrition, and restore strength.
Many patients experience nausea while undergoing chemotherapy which is still a standard treatment.
Dr. Harry Raftopoulos: It's very distressing to them and it really impacts the whole treatment off to that.
Host: Drugs can help sometimes, but not always. Now, researchers are also looking at natural remedies.
Dr. Timothy Birdsall: Ginger has been researched for a variety of types of nausea, including nausea related to chemotherapy. Also, the herb peppermint can be very useful in controlling that nausea.
Host: But nausea is not the only side effect.
Dr. Allen Clark: I still have some problems with swallowing, eating after the radiation and the chemotherapy.
Host: Plastic surgeon, Allen Clark, is battling throat cancer.
Dr. Bill Carroll: It's almost like you are drinking hot coffee that's too hot and you are burning your throat.
Host: Patients are often put on a feeding tube just to keep them nourished. But doctors noticed patients who continue to eat and drink on their own during cancer treatment and were given a series of exercises, avoided some of the scarring that causes swallowing trouble.
Dr. Allen Clark: One exercise was to hold my tongue between my teeth and swallow. So I would drink and swallow like that.
Host: It's clear, nutrition can be a challenge.
Dr. Timothy Birdsall: Sometimes we do need to really kind of pack some calories in, so we may create protein shakes for patients so that they are getting concentrated nutrition.
Host: Certain foods are being studied as cancer fighters, such as soy for prostate cancer.
Nagi Kumar: We noticed that over 70% of them reduced PSA.
Host: Prostate-Specific Antigen is the measure for prostrate cancer. However, if soy is good for one cancer, it may not be good for another.
Dr. Timothy Birdsall: The woman with estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer, we don't want her to consume soy, because there is a risk that that may actually stimulate the cancer to grow.
Host: Another challenge, restoring physical and emotional strength; it's a critical part of cancer treatment and survival.
Dr. Timothy Birdsall: Moderately aggressive walking program can significantly improve patient's energy levels.
Host: In fact, activities once taboo are now empowering survivors to fight lingering consequences.
Kathryn Schmitz: Squeeze, let me give you something to squeeze on.
Lymphedema is one of the most common late effects of breast cancer treatment.
Host: Lymphedema is swelling caused by removal of lymph nodes. To prevent it, patients were told to avoid heavy lifting.
Kathryn Schmitz: It is part of that old thinking.
Host: Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania recently found a flaw in the conventional wisdom.
Kathryn Schmitz: After six months of strength training, their quality of life had improved and their lymphedema symptoms had improved.
Female Speaker: I exercise everyday. I think they pegged me up for reoccurrence. I don't even think about it.
Host: Treating the cancer, treating the side effects but also treating the patient like a whole person. That's why oncologist and cancer survivor, Dr. Ed Staren, recommends more than the traditional approach.
Dr. Ed Staren: Combining that with state-of-the-art and scientifically based complementary medicine gave me and them the best chance to be around to see my grandchildren.
Host: Knowing which complementary treatments are appropriate requires consultation with your doctor and professionals trained in natural medicine and oncology.
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