Many people and cultures have known for a long time that treating the mind and the spirit can improve physical health. Exploring mind-body-spirit treatments like yoga, art therapy, acupuncture or herbal remedies can help you regain a sense of control as you face a cancer diagnosis and can help you cope with the stresses of this monumental life change. A healthy mind and spirit can in turn have very real physical effects on your body and your body’s responses to cancer treatment.

A Western medicine approach to cancer consists of therapies proven to work for many different people in clinical trials. These conventional therapies include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy and hormonal therapy, for example. We know for sure that these therapies help to eliminate cancer cells, which are cells that are able to survive and grow despite many “stop” signals sent to them from the body.

Conventional therapies are our first line of defense in cancer treatment. They are powerful and effective. But there are also many complementary or supportive therapies available for people with cancer: exercise, physical therapy, special diets, yoga, massage, meditation, guided imagery, music therapy, prayer, journaling, acupuncture, herbal medicines and dietary supplements. These complementary therapies can’t rid the body of tough cancer cells on their own. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t be extremely valuable in cancer care.

When combined with conventional therapies, complementary therapies can have measurable benefits on physical and mental healing and overall quality of life. Cancer care that combines conventional therapies, like radiation, with complementary therapies, like meditation and guided imagery, is called integrative oncology. Many modern cancer centers have integrative medicine programs that offer complementary therapies on-site.

Recap: No existing complementary or “alternative” therapy can cure cancer. Cancer is a complex disease that often requires many different interventions. However, many complementary therapies can boost the success of conventional cancer treatments.

Integrative therapies can help people thrive in their journeys through cancer treatment. Research has found that many complementary therapies can help with chemotherapy and radiation side effects like nausea and pain. Complementary therapies like meditation, journaling, spiritual practice and other mental health interventions can also help patients better handle the extreme stress of living with cancer.

Mental distress can make it more difficult for you to make it to healthcare appointments, get good sleep or remain hopeful for the future. Mental stress and distress can even trigger inflammation and make it more difficult for your immune system to fight off or prevent the formation of new cancer cells. So any complementary therapy that helps you feel better and helps you have a positive outlook and be more relaxed can be a valuable addition to your cancer care toolkit.

Here is a short list of the benefits of various complementary therapies in cancer care:

• Journaling, talk therapy and social support can help you meet the mental and emotional challenges of cancer treatment.
• Complementary therapies that you can pursue at home, like a special diet, will help give you a sense of control and relieve stress during times of high uncertainty in your cancer journey.
• A healthy diet and exercise can lower inflammation, strengthen your body’s own cancer-fighting immune system, help with cancer-related fatigue, and reduce stress. 
• Mental health support can improve your quality of life and help you thrive even as you face cancer.
• Yoga, massage, guided imagery or hypnosis, acupuncture and similar activities can help relieve pain and nausea, common side effects of conventional cancer therapies and cancer itself.

You wouldn’t take a prescription medicine or pursue a serious medical intervention without speaking with your doctor. The same should be true for any complementary therapy you consider during cancer treatment. Anything that we do to or put in our bodies can interact with existing medicines or therapies we are receiving. Drinking coffee while taking a melatonin sleeping supplement would have opposite effects on your body and possibly harmful side effects.

Many supportive therapies work in positive or complementary ways with conventional cancer therapies like chemotherapy, but some can interact in harmful ways. It’s important that you speak with your cancer care team about any complementary therapies or lifestyle changes you are considering before or during your treatment for cancer. They may ask you to wait until after a particular treatment to take a dietary supplement that could interfere with the treatment, for example. Most oncologists will support you in pursuing complementary therapies, and may work with you to make sure that the ones you are pursuing are the best ones for your specific health needs.

An oncology social worker or navigator can also help you with coordinating care and encouraging communication amongst providers.

Summary: Integrative oncology is a holistic approach to cancer care, including a combination of conventional and complementary therapies aimed at optimizing health, quality of life, and short and long term health outcomes.

Here is a short list of the benefits of various complementary therapies in cancer care:

• Journaling, talk therapy and social support can help you meet the mental and emotional challenges of cancer treatment.
• Complementary therapies that you can pursue at home, like a special diet, will help give you a sense of control and relieve stress during times of high uncertainty in your cancer journey.
• A healthy diet and exercise can lower inflammation, strengthen your body’s own cancer-fighting immune system, help with cancer-related fatigue, and reduce stress. 
• Mental health support can improve your quality of life and help you thrive even as you face cancer.
• Yoga, massage, guided imagery or hypnosis, acupuncture and similar activities can help relieve pain and nausea, common side effects of conventional cancer therapies and cancer itself.

References:

• https://www.oncolink.org/cancer-treatment/complementary-and-alternative-medicine/support-resources-for-complementary-therapies/resources-for-more-information-integrative-complimentary-and-alternative-medicine
• https://www.ochsner.org/services/integrative-oncology-services 
• https://cancerblog.mayoclinic.org/2022/03/15/integrative-oncology-lifestyle-medicine-for-people-with-cancer/ 
• https://www.karger.com/Article/PDF/194306 
• https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1534735419890029
• https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/chinese-medicine