Cancer Alternative Medicine: What is cancer and who gets it?
The prevalence of cancer, its potential to kill, and that so little is known about why and how cells become cancerous, makes cancer one of the scariest and most researched diseases today. However, the success of treatments in the arena of conventional and alternative medicine for cancer have improved chances for survival or permanent remission. Cancer is defined by any malignant growth or tumor caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division. It may spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system or the blood stream.
This much is known. "Cancer is caused by abnormalities in a cell.s DNA (its
genetic blueprint). Abnormalities may be inherited from parents, or they may
be caused by outside exposures to the body such as chemicals, radiation, or
even infectious agents. Some carcinogens do not act on DNA directly, but cause
cancer in other ways, such as causing cells to divide at a faster rate. Substances
that can cause changes that can lead to cancer are called carcinogens." Probably
the best known alternative medicine for cancer is prevention, which includes
a healthy diet, exercise, a balanced emotional state and a strong immune system.
"Carcinogens do not cause cancer in every case, all the time. Substances classified
as carcinogens may have different levels of cancer-causing potential. Some may
cause cancer only after prolonged, high levels of exposure. And for any particular
person, the risk of developing cancer will depend on many factors, including
the length and intensity of exposure to the carcinogen and the person.s genetic
makeup." (www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_1_3x_Known_and_Probable_Carcinogens.asp?sitearea=WHO)
The severity or stage of the cancer could also determine if the patient will
choose conventional, complimentary or alternative medicine for cancer treatment.
Cancer Alternative Medicine: How are carcinogens found?
"Scientists get much of their data about whether or not something might be carcinogenic from laboratory (cell culture and animal) studies. Although it isn.t possible to predict with absolute certainty which substances will be carcinogenic to humans based on animal studies alone, virtually all known human carcinogens that have been adequately tested in lab animals produce cancer in these animals."
"In many cases, carcinogens are first found to cause cancer in lab animals and are later found to cause cancer in people. Because there are far too many substances (natural and manmade) to test each one in lab animals, scientists use knowledge about chemical structure, other types of lab tests, and information about the extent of human exposure to select chemicals for testing." (www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_1_3x_Known_and_Probable_Carcinogens.asp?sitearea=WHO)
Cancer Alternative Medicine: Exposure to carcinogens does not guarantee cancer
The most mysterious thing about cancer is that it is completely unpredictable.
Exposure to a carcinogen does not mean a person will come down with cancer.
Take people who smoke. Not everyone with a heavy, lifetime smoking habit will
come down with lung cancer. Even if 50 percent of heavy smokers do, why don.t
the other half fall prey to the same disease after exposure to the same carcinogens.
Though little is know about why this happens, researchers speculate that it
has to do with the strength of the immune system. Alternative medicine for cancer
concentrates on rebuilding the compromised immunity of most cancer patients.
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Conventional and alternative medicine for cancer
As progress is made in our cancer research, we learn more about the disease and how to best treat it. While many people opt for the conventional approach to killing cancer cells, such as surgery and chemotherapy, more people are supplementing their treatment with complimentary and alternative medicine for cancer. Complimentary medicine is the mix of traditional and alternative medicine for cancer.
"Several surveys of complimentary and alternative medicine used by cancer patients have been conducted with small numbers of patients. One study published in the February 2000 issue of the journal Cancer reported that 37 percent of 46 patients with prostate cancer used one or more complimentary and alternative therapies as part of their cancer treatment. These therapies included herbal remedies, vitamins, and special diets."
A larger study of the use of complimentary and alternative medicine for cancer "in patients with different types of cancer was published in the July 2000 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology. This study found that 69 percent of 453 cancer patients had used at least one" complimentary and alternative medicine cancer "therapy as part of their cancer treatment." (cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/9_14.htm)
Current trials in conventional, complimentary and alternative medicine for cancer
"The National Cancer Institute and National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine are currently sponsoring or cosponsoring various clinical trials to study complementary" and alternative medicine for cancer. "Some of these trials study the effects of complementary approaches used in addition to conventional treatments, while others compare alternative therapies with conventional treatments. Current trials include the following."
One study looks at the use of alternative medicine for cancer to reduced the symptoms of advance colorectal cancer. Acupuncture is the primary modality used for this treatment. Another study looks at a conventional approach to treating patients with non-small cell lung cancer that can.t be removed by surgery. A combination of chemotherapy plus radiation therapy is used. Sometimes doctors may also use shark cartilage in the treatment.
Another study looks at treating patients who have had all or part of their larynx (voice box) removed due to cancerous laryngectomy operations. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is being used for those patients. Massage therapy is another alternative medicine for cancer relief. It is being used in some studies to fight cancer-related fatigue. It also serves to promote the flow of toxins out of the body and could be a very beneficial therapy for getting the toxins from chemotherapy out of the body.
One study compares the use of complimentary versus alternative medicine for cancer by contrasting chemotherapy with pancreatic enzyme therapy for patients of pancreatic cancer. The patients who did pancreatic enzyme therapy only were also put on a specialized diet to treat the cancer. Diet could be one of the best alternative medicines for cancer. Another study looks into treating solid tumors with chemotherapy plus mistletoe extract.
Choosing between complementary and alternative medicine for cancer
The following questions should be asked of both conventional and alternative medical practitioners before undertaking any treatment, regardless of alternative, complimentary or conventional. Many of the following questions were excerpted from the following Web page ( cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/9_14.htm).
- What benefits can be expected from this conventional or alternative medicine cancer therapy?
- "What are the risks associated with this therapy?"
- "Do the known benefits outweigh the risks"
- "What side effects can be expected?"
- Will the alternative medicine cancer therapy interfere with conventional treatment?
- "Is this therapy part of a clinical trial? If so, who is sponsoring the trial?"
- "Will the therapy be covered by health insurance?"
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