Complementary Cancer Therapies

With recent clinical advances, millions of people survive many years after a cancer diagnosis. And while their physicians deliver conventional, evidence-based therapies to treat the cancer, sometimes the cancer patient and his or her symptoms are not treated with equal skill. To manage their physical and emotional symptoms and promote health and well-being, most cancer patients and survivors use complementary therapies: Naturopathy, Ayurveda, herbalism, homeopathy, hypnosis, yoga, acupuncture, music therapy, macrobiotics, chelation therapy, colonics, hydrotherapy and many, many more. But OC are they safe? Are they effective? What problems do they address? What are the risks? When can they help? This unique and comprehensive book guides the way through the often confusing maze of complementary and alternative therapies promoted to cancer patients and survivors. The functions, benefits, backgrounds and risks are clearly presented. Learning when, if and how to use them provides medical professionals, cancer patients and survivors with the information they need to better control the symptoms and side effects of cancer and its treatment. Unfortunately, using some of these therapies without this expert guidance can lead to medical complications, or worse. The Complete Guide to Complementary Therapies in Cancer Care is an invaluable resource in making educated health care decisions for managing life during and after cancer. Through the wise and informed use of these approaches, cancer patients OCo whether just-diagnosed, during treatment or throughout Survivership are better able to manage the physical and emotional stresses that accompany cancer, leading to symptom control and improved quality of life."

Actively reflecting conventional medical treatment objectives, interactions, benefits, and risks, this book is presented in a format that patients can easily understand and that oncologists can confidently recommend to their patients.

Emphasising the multi-disciplinary nature of palliative care the fourth edition of this text also looks at the individual professional roles that contribute to the best-quality palliative care.

Integration of complementary and alternative medicine therapies (CAM) with conventional medicine is occurring in hospitals and physicians offices, health maintenance organizations (HMOs) are covering CAM therapies, insurance coverage for CAM is increasing, and integrative medicine centers and clinics are being established, many with close ties to medical schools and teaching hospitals. In determining what care to provide, the goal should be comprehensive care that uses the best scientific evidence available regarding benefits and harm, encourages a focus on healing, recognizes the importance of compassion and caring, emphasizes the centrality of relationship-based care, encourages patients to share in decision making about therapeutic options, and promotes choices in care that can include complementary therapies where appropriate. Numerous approaches to delivering integrative medicine have evolved. Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States identifies an urgent need for health systems research that focuses on identifying the elements of these models, the outcomes of care delivered in these models, and whether these models are cost-effective when compared to conventional practice settings. It outlines areas of research in convention and CAM therapies, ways of integrating these therapies, development of curriculum that provides further education to health professionals, and an amendment of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act to improve quality, accurate labeling, research into use of supplements, incentives for privately funded research into their efficacy, and consumer protection against all potential hazards.

Accompanying CD-ROM contains ... "complete text and illustrations of the book, in fully searchable PDF format."

Mind, body and spirit methods - manual healing and physical touch methods - Herbs, vitamin and mineral methods - Diet and nutrition methods - Pharmacological and biological treatment methods.

Based on careful analysis of burden of disease and the costs ofinterventions, this second edition of 'Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries, 2nd edition' highlights achievable priorities; measures progresstoward providing efficient, equitable care; promotes cost-effectiveinterventions to targeted populations; and encourages integrated effortsto optimize health. Nearly 500 experts - scientists, epidemiologists, health economists,academicians, and public health practitioners - from around the worldcontributed to the data sources and methodologies, and identifiedchallenges and priorities, resulting in this integrated, comprehensivereference volume on the state of health in developing countries.

One of every four deaths occurring in the United States today is due to cancer, and the number of diagnoses continues to increase. Fortunately, however, cancer treatments are improving, which means more and more patients are surviving for longer periods. Complementary methods have played an important role in these treatments, showing benefits such as a higher quality of life, reduced instance and severity of the side effects of standard therapy, and a general improvement of the patient's immunological state. Indeed, these methods - from carefully monitored nutrition, exercise, and psychological support to enzyme substitution, phytotherapy, hyperthermia and microbiology therapy - are critical to a treatment's overall success. More than ever, doctors need accurate, up-to-date information about which methods have been proven in scientifically based clinical studies (EBM) to be acceptable for use in conjunction with standard treatment methods. In this unique book, experts ranging across medical disciplines present data on the efficacy of these methods as they are currently being used, the necessary scientific background, and practical advice for introducing them into practice. With illustrations, tables, and detailed descriptions, this book is an ideal reference and an invaluable tool for educating patients about this encouraging aspect of cancer therapy. Throughout, the contributors emphasize the latest scientifically and clinically tested treatments. A useful chart lays out in detail which treatments are applicable for various types of cancers and what effects they have been shown to cause. The word is out about the beneficial qualities of complementary therapies in the treatment of cancer. More physicians are offering it to their patients, and more and more patients are demanding it. You - and your patients - cannot afford to be without this valuable resource.

Recent global cancer statistical data has clearly indicated that prostate cancer is currently the second most frequently diagnosed cancer (at 15% of all male cancers) and globally the sixth leading cause of cancer death in males. This book is a summary of prostate cancer, covering its incidence, epidemiology, and current treatment options. It also serves as an up-to-date review of the status of currently available alternative and complementary medicines for treating prostate cancer, including various plant extracts, herbal formulations, natural products, yoga, acupuncture, Ayurveda, homeopathy, and Siddha medicines used in prostate cancer therapy.

The MediFocus Guidebook on Complementary Cancer Therapies is the most comprehensive, up-to-date source of information available. You will get answers to your questions, including risk factors of Complementary Cancer Therapies, standard and alternative treatment options, leading doctors, hospitals and medical centers that specialize in Complementary Cancer Therapies, results of the latest clinical trials, support groups and additional resources, and promising new treatments on the horizon. This one of a kind Guidebook offers answers to your critical health questions including the latest treatments, clinical trials, and expert research; high quality, professional level information you can trust and understand culled from the latest peer-reviewed journals; and a unique resource to find leading experts, institutions, and support organizations including contact information and hyperlinks. This Guidebook was updated on February 2, 2012.