Safety And Efficacy Of Integrative Therapies Used In The Treatment Of Breast Cancer

Problem: The widespread use of integrative medicine has become an integral part of patient care in the treatment of breast cancer. This review explores current evidence on the safety and efficacy of integrative therapies presently being used by breast cancer patients. The integrative therapies discussed include: dietary modification, anti-oxidant vitamin supplementation, acupuncture, and massage therapy. Methods: Each therapy was searched, analyzed, and discussed with relevance to efficacy and safety of use in combination with conventional therapies. The efficacy of each intervention is evaluated by examining prior studies of integrative therapy use in breast cancer patients. In the evaluation of safety, the contraindications of integrative therapy use with concurrent therapies such as chemotherapy, radiation, and surgical intervention are considered. Results: The results demonstrate which therapies may be encouraged (for example, dietary modifications for a breast cancer patient with an appropriate nutritional status) or discouraged (for example, anti-oxidant vitamin supplementation for a pre-operative breast cancer patient). Conclusion: The communication between health care providers and patients regarding integrative therapies is essential in providing the highest quality treatment. This review provides an evidence-based systematic approach for health care practioners to guide breast cancer patients seeking integrative therapies. While specific integrative therapies have proved to be safe and effective modalities of treatment for breast cancer, further studies need to be performed in order to assess the level of communication between patient and provider.

This book is designed to capture and clinically review the comprehensive database of clinical research articles that support and do not support the utilization of a variety of dietary supplements and other complementary medicines that physicians are exposed to in their daily practice. The growing list of CAM products that could interfere with surgery (anesthesia, bleeding, outcomes...) and/or conventional medicines is very large and is provided in each section of the book. Additionally, the list of dietary supplements that could be utilized to improve quality of life for breast cancer patients is also emphasized. The various sub-specialty groups in breast are adequately represented, which allows for a physician to rapidly and thoroughly investigate their topic of interest regardless of whether the topic is prevention, treatment, or a specific side effect of treatment. The practical nature of Integrative Medicine for Breast Cancer: An Evidence-Based Assessment cannot be overstated. Chapters include a general overview of the CAM agent, whether or not it has data in medicine and oncology, and a list of potential drug interactions and specific clinical scenarios where it can be utilized or discouraged in the specialty. Thus, this book will become the gold standard evidence based text for use in teaching, not only for the students interested in oncology and breast cancer, but for all current oncology health providers.

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.

This book covers the most common areas of concern in women's health. It provides a truly integrative approach, showing when, how, and for whom complementary/integrative therapies can benefit women in continuity with their regular medical care. This is an evidence-based, clinically-oriented book that presents the background and range of complementary and alternative therapies related to common medical conditions and functional complaints and disorders. It summarizes and analyzes scientific studies on the safety and efficacy of these therapies for various women's health conditions. Each chapter includes a description of commonly used treatments, discussions of safety issues (including adverse effects and drug interactions), a comprehensive summary and methodological assessment of clinical trials on the subject (with animal and in vitro data included as appropriate), and advice on counseling patients. Provides a clear review of the scientific evidence relating complementary and integrative medicine to the care of women. Offers a roadmap to the options in the treatment of women with complementary and integrative medicine - expanding the clinician's practice, whatever their specialty, with realistic possibilities. Features comprehensive coverage of safety issues. Written by leading experts in the field. Sidebars within each chapter provide at-a-glance advice for patients and practitioners. Includes key coverage of non-gynecologic issues such as nutrition, headache, depression, cancer, and heart disease. Offers comprehensive coverage of commonly used treatments and related safety issues, such as possible adverse effects and drug interactions, plus a helpful appendix on Botanical Products. A focused table of contents makes it easy to find the right treatment for each patient based on their condition. Features advice on talking with patients about self-treatments they may have read about in books or on the Internet.

Would you use complementary and alternative medicines (CAMS)? Well, research has shown that up to three quarters of patients with cancer may at least supplement their treatment with such therapies, spending as much on CAMS as conventional drugs. How do you decide? This book provides a full range of perspectives on CAMS from patients and CAMS practitioners to conventional doctors who oppose the use of these alternative treatments because of the lack of evidence of efficacy and safety. Then there are the CAMS researchers, educators and regulators who view CAMS from different perspectives. The broad array of opinions build a complete picture of the issues for discerning readers to be adequately informed to make up their minds and draw their own conclusions.

Integrative Oncology explores a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to cancer care that addresses all individuals involved in the process, and can include the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies alongside conventional modalities such as chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. The number of integrative care programs is increasing worldwide and this book forms a foundation text for all who want to learn more about this growing field. This guide provides a thoughtful and generous perspective on integrative care, an outstanding overview of the exciting clinical opportunities these techniques can offer, and a guide to the new territories that all oncologists and CAM practitioners need to explore and understand.

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.

People facing a new diagnosis of cancer are unsettled by their prognosis and treatment options, and they often seek to integrate complementary modalities into their conventional care plan, hoping to improve their chances of cure and decrease side effects. Many do so without informing their oncologist, for fear of alienating them or not convinced that their physician would be informed about complementary therapies. Integrative Oncology, the first volume in the Weil Integrative Medicine Library, provides a wealth of information for both practitioners and consumers on the emerging field of integrative oncology. Noted oncologist Donald Abrams and integrative medicine pioneer Andrew Weil and their international panel of experts present up-to-date and extensively referenced chapters on a wide spectrum of issues and challenges, bound in one comprehensive, reader-friendly text in a format featuring key points, sidebars, tables, and a two-color design for ease of use. It is destined to emerge as the definitive resource in this emerging field.

This popular, evidence-based overview of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) emphasizes clinical research, analyzes the effectiveness of each therapy, and presents practical information on how these therapies can be used to treat health conditions and diseases. It not only acquaints the reader with information about CAM, but provides evidence for the effectiveness of various therapies used to treat medical conditions ranging from allergies to psychiatric conditions - in all populations relevant to CAM including children, women and the elderly. Summary tables embedded throughout highlight clinical data, statistics, and major research findings. More thorough documentation in this edition is achieved through new tables and added commentary on the quality of studies, making research findings more relevant and useful. Chapters are grouped according to condition and special populations rather than treatment, so readers can easily compare all possible treatments for a specific condition. Up-to-date tables allow the reader to see what studies have been done for a certain condition, and what the findings are. Extensive references and suggested reading lists refer the reader to the most up-to-date or historically relevant sources. An emphasis on research and clinical studies gives the book a comprehensive focus on CAM treatments and results. The evidenced-based approach clearly details which therapies are most effective and safe. Up-to-date tables focusing on critical needs related to demographics, safety, and areas of clinical pain allow summary information to be quickly referenced. Comprehensive, reliable content presents an unbiased account of CAM that allows the reader to follow the data without excessive commentary from the authors. A focus on major medical conditions for which there is the most detailed and up-to-date information available allows the reader to learn about the major critical issues of CAM. The ways in which research methodology can be used to practice evidence-based medicine is reviewed in several chapters. A focus on special populations, including women, children, and the elderly, presents important CAM considerations for these groups. A new chapter on Legal and Ethical Issues addresses important professional considerations for practice related to CAM, including physician liability, malpractice issues, patient responsibility, and accreditation and licensing of CAM providers. A new chapter on Integration of Clinical Practice and Medical Training with Complimentary and Alternative and Evidence-Based Medicine evaluating use of the case history approach; information and evidence in clinical practice and a model for integration of CAM used at the University of Arizona School of Medicine. Significant content updates are provided for timely issues such as the use of herbs for depression, the use of massage for anxiety, CAM in pediatric and nursing care situations, and multi-modal therapies for pain. Each table throughout the book has been extensively updated with the latest facts and information. A final summary chapter at the end of the book presents emerging CAM treatments and suggests goals for CAM studies. Much more attention has been paid in this edition to evaluating the quality of research, which allows for concrete and valid conclusions that are supported by science. Appendices have been updated with much more information on research databases, listings, and organizations.