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Subscribe to RSSAt the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, one of the oldest cancer treatment centers in the world, complimentary therapies such as hypnosis and Tai Chi are now regularly offered to patients. NBC's Dr. Nancy Snyderman reports.
Along with the standard treatments of chemotherapy and radiation for cancer, patients are routinely being offered alternative or complementary therapies such as acupuncture, massage and yoga in major cancer centers around the country, according to a report by NBC’s Dr. Nancy Snyderman on “Nightly News with Brian Williams.” Alternative therapies have become an increasingly mainstream tool for doctors all around the country, especially when used to ease the side effects of treatment.
On Tuesday, Oct. 16., tune in to "NBC Nightly News" to watch part two of Dr. Nancy Snyderman's report on complementary medicine and learn about different therapies for back pain.
A 2010 University of Pennsylvania study found that 70 percent of comprehensive cancer centers offered information on complementary therapies on their websites, according to study co-author Dr. Jun Mao, an assistant professor and director of integrative care at the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania.
“And over half of these centers endorse the use of these therapies in cancer care delivery,” Mao says.
The reason complementary therapies have moved into the mainstream, particularly with regard to cancer care, is that they can help patients deal with pain and treatment side effects, explains Dr. Barrie Cassileth, a pioneer in the field of complementary medicine
who heads up the integrative medicine service at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
Read a transcript from Dr. Snyderman's online chat about complementary medicine.
“Acupuncture does not cure cancer, but it is extremely helpful in a cancer setting because it can control multiple symptoms, some of which are not treatable with mainstream means,” Cassileth told NBC’s chief medical editor Dr. Nancy Snyderman.
“It’s not enough to say to the patient, ‘OK, you’re finished with your chemotherapy, your radiation, your surgery and so on. Goodbye, and have a good life.’ The patient is suffering from a wide range of problems.”
Mao’s study found that acupuncture was one of the most commonly mentioned complementary therapies on cancer center websites.
Diane Miller, breast cancer survivor, and Dr. Barrie Cassileth, Chief of Integrative Medicine Service at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, on what Dr. Cassileth calls "a very evidence-based, rational approach to symptom control."
“Acupuncture can help alleviate pain and nausea,” Snyderman explains. “The good cancer centers believe that acupuncture is a cornerstone of integrative medicine.”
What’s still not clear – even to the specialists – is exactly how acupuncture works.
“We don’t entirely understand its mechanism,” Mao says. “We do know that acupuncture can help relieve pain by bringing in endogenous opiates, which are like pain medication.”
Other therapies, such as yoga, help to reduce pain by reducing stress, Mao says.
“They enhance centeredness and peace,” he explains. “And that kind of stress reduction can reduce pain. Anxiety can lower a person’s pain threshold. By helping to lower stress and anxiety, it can help with the pain.”
Beyond this, complementary therapies can help foster the mind body connection, Mao says.
That rings true to Snyderman who would like to see more biofeedback being used.
“Biofeedback may be one of those hidden gems that we don't talk enough about,” Snyderman says. “Being able to image a part of your body, harness thought and control things like heart rate and blood pressure and minimize pain is astonishing. I am a huge fan of biofeedback and using that same power to enhance the immune system - a field called psychoneuroimmunology.”
For patients, there’s a side benefit: feeling more in control of their lives.
“Cancer is often unexpected and it takes a lot of control from the individual,” Mao says. “Complementary medicine often helps patients regain some sense of control, and helps them deal with some of the uncertainties.”
That makes sense to Diane Miller, a breast cancer survivor who has been dealing with her diagnosis and treatments for the past few years.
“Finding out what I can do myself is empowering,” Miller says. “And it really does help my symptoms.”
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The money is in the treatment, not the cure. And God forbid ( or rather,the government) you should be allowed to have a powerful narcotic to ease your suffering WHEN YOUR ODDS OF DYING are immeasurably greater than living long enough to become an "addict"!
What cure? cure what exactly?
And i do say that to make a point. Curing cancer is not like curing polio (for example), it's like curing viruses, we aren't talking about one specific condition but an entire range of conditions. plus medicine stays away from using the word cure because of limited technology, it's not like we could completely and perfectly remove all cancer from a persons body and prevent the development of cancer in the future. Any product, advertised as a cure should be a ginormous red flag saying "fake!".
Now regarding painkillers it just so happens that the most effective way of blocking out pain is using chemicals similar to hormones that effect the brain, such hormones act in such a way as to cause dependency. we currently don't know of any other mechanism that is as effective at pain relief, without the addictive side effect of messing with brain chemistry.
Actually we do, James. That is what the article is about. We really do know other ways to ease pain, and we know ways to do that without toxic side effects or addiction. Yes, we do, and saying we don't just because US doctors didn't learn the ways in a US medical school and letting people suffer just isn't okay.
If a person who had never seen a c-section or heard that it was possible saw a surgeon performing one he would be horrified and say it shouldn't be allowed, but c-sections can save lives. The doctors who were traditionally trained and hadn't ever thought of simply washing their hands between patients laughed when Dr. Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis discovered that simply washing hands between patients prevented puerperal fever (childbirth infection) from spreading from one patient to another. The medical community ostracized him and were hostile to him, and what harm was he doing suggesting doctors wash their hands??? What toxic side effect would that cause? None, but since traditionally that wasn't done he was treated horribly and laughed at until later when medical science caught up to reality. So all those women died and the children left without mothers because doctors of the time said that was nonsense and not in their usual procedures. Was that reasonable? Is withholding a therapy that is not toxic or harmful any less biased or unreasonable? Teamwork...treat the whole person and work to find out what alternative therapies DO work..and then use them!
Ram, what methods are more effective at treating pain? the article talks about accupuncutre massage and yoga none of which are as effective or long lasting.
I read this article after walking with my dogs in our
garden. Our early morning Sabbath is our custom for many years, most especially
the months and years of being with cancer. I was diagnosed at 70 with a 4cm
tumor at the base of my tongue by an ENT doc who said, “By the time people get
here, it is too late.” My dentist missed it; my primary care doc missed it. I
thought it was too late, but with support of friends decided to go for the
treatments in chemical therapy, radiation and chemo and surgery.
I thought about my own personal script, what language I would use. Would I “kick
butt, conquer, battle, declare war”? Or would I use my language of peace and
kindness, would I focus on the loving energy and support of friends and family
and would I embrace the life and the health practices I had always known and
explored and maintained?
The doctors looked at me and said how? I do not smoke or drink.
I practice prevention. Part of my health care is massage, meditation, organic foods,
a kitchen with stainless, cleaning supplies of baking soda and vinegar,
vigorous exercise: power walking and swimming. And, then of course, the garden
with my dogs spells fresh air, digging in the dirt, enjoying our home and yard.
Even my socks are organic cotton, the dogs beds are organic cotton, their
treats are organic, why me? Why not me? Our air, water and food are toxic. Our
culture is toxic. Since 1973, 5 billion dollars a year are spent on R and D,
110 billion dollars a year spent on treatments.
I began the journey into cancerland and western medicine. During the treatments
and recovery, I wrote a journal-memoir almost daily. I have read that
journaling is a good helpmate in developing endurance or hanging on to a day. I
managed to format the book myself and publish it on both Amazon and Barnes and
Noble. I took pictures during radiation and in the hospital. I sketched
infusion rooms. I did self-portraits in charcoal going through chemo and showed
pictures of my neck during radiation. I wrote about carrot juice and the foods
I found that I could swallow, and the portable suction pump I carried around
for weeks and weeks. I wrote about making myself walk and swim as long as
permitted. I wrote.
I encourage people facing this challenge to be strong, to do
the research, to speak up and to help the others.
Thanks for this article. Thanks to all for response. We are
legions.
4pavi: Thank you for sharing. Western medicine has come a long way (especially with surgery) and I believe that many alternative medicines have too. Alkaline diets are good. Yoga & meditation are good. Acupuncture is good. Prayer is good. Counseling and therapy are good. As with most things it depends on the individual. I believe in many, many different types of healing on all different levels. Certainly the physical but we are all so much more than bodies. Many more people are beating cancer today than ever before. People with cancer need every bit of help they can get-ESPECIALLY with pain management and if Cannibus helps them eat and not be nauseated or relieves some discomfort then why is this even a issue?
In the sack you go.
I have been through chemo, surgery, and radiation over the past year. I used modern medicines, meditation, music, herbal lotions, and yoga to handle side effects of those treatments. My prognosis has gone from a 50% 5 year survival rate at the beginning to less than a 5% chance for recurrance over the next 5 years. But, I truly believe the biggest factor in my recovery has been the prayers of friends and family across the country. As CS Lewis said, "We do not have a soul. We are a soul. We have a body."
Cancer is not like a sore throat which is cured by an antibiotic or a broken arm which needs to be set and given time. Many modern cancer centers are aware they must treat the whole person. This is why they provide things like emotional and nutrition counseling, alternate therapies for pain and other symptom management. Even if something like yoga or accupuncture only provides temporary relief, trust me, if you are the person it is providing relief for you will consider it important.
If you haven't been there, you are in no position to judge!
Faith healing? Same nonsense. In the sack you go EAE.
There is a sure cure for cancer. "And no resident will say "I am sick." The people that are dwelling in the land will be those pardoned for their error." Isaiah 33:24. When we live in disobedience to our Almighty God, He is under no obligation to protect us or heal us. However, if we seek Him with sincerity of heart, He will hear us and heal us. Please see Psalm 103:3, 1st Peter 5:6&7, Matthew 9:1-5, John 5:1-14 & James 5:16 in your Bible.
Oh seriously. Yes, if a person chooses to subscribe to a religious belief that is his choice and part of his path, but saying that everyone will be cured if you believe in one book and one God, but do nothing else, is not even reasonable. Your post makes no sense. Many wonderful Christians get cancer, and your post is offensive in that it insinuates that if we could all just follow the God you happen to believe in and be really awesome people no one would get die from cancer. If you choose to believe that it is your right, but if you believe that living the life you describe prevents or cures cancer, why are so many wonderful people suffering at this moment? Follow your path, but don't tell others if they would just follow the rules in your church they would be cured. How insulting, in my personal opinion.
faithfulwatcher--if God exists, and I believe He does, then surely He is not a genie in a bottle, that if you rub him the right way, he will 'jump out of the bottle' and grant you your every wish. He knows the end from the beginning, and has all the puzzle pieces of the universe. I believe that a better example from the Bible is the story of Shadrak, Meshak, Abendigo - they acknowledged that God could save them from the fiery furnace, but acknowledged that even if He chooses not to, they still would not bow and worship The Statue. They kept their faith regardless of the circumstances they were in, and left the results up to God.
God does indeed exist. But we live in a fallen world and Christians are not exempt from the illnesses and tragedies that exist because this is a fallen world. Yes, God does indeed intervene and heal in miraculous ways. But He also calls some of us to walk through the valleys of pain.
"Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be n the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off rom the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will take joy in the God of my salvation." Habakkuk 3: 17-18 Yes, I wanted a miracle and believe in miracles. But, my faith is in God, no matter what. If Jesus Christ, the Son of God, could go through suffering, who am I to expect to be exempt from it?
Someday, we will no longer be in this sinful world, and then all our diseases will indeed be healed. Until that time, my faith is still in God, whether He heals me now or not.
Get in the sack EAE!
I would like to suggest that any one dealing with the side effects of chemo or radiation google the herb Ganoderma.
The Asians have been using this herb for thousands of years in medicine.
There is only one coffee and tea product with 100% Ganoderma in it that I am aware of.
I will be more than happy to share this with anyone by contacting me at my email khdaniel@live.com
Have a blessed day.
Sorry, I didn't mean to comment twice.
Lets not forget about a famous scientist known as Dr. Royal Lee Rife. Time magazine gave him 18 terminal cancer patient. He cured, yes I said cured, even well documented by Time. He cure 16 in 30 days and the other 2 took 90 days. He is still the developer of the most powerful microscope that can see a live virus which no other microscope even at today's standard can match his 1950 microscope. It's a shame all of his records were lost because of someone setting his facility on fire. A good question is why is it illegal to own a Rife machine in the U.S? There are no side effects to it. There are many good alternative treatment for cancer. The worse one is early detection by the AMA. Because you did not prevent it. By the FDA standard if you live 5 years with cancer. They are allow to say, they cured you from your cancer. Even if you die the next day. Eat your brassica and cruciferous vegetables!!!!! Stay away from GMO food and NSAID drugs, these are cancer stimulators.
Kim Daniel, Tiger-239526, and Enoch - 2941827, you both have some good ideas as well. LisaC- 5522681 and pavi4, you have some merit with your comments but faithfulwatcher is still right to an extent. "My people die for a lack of knowledge."
Please, get in the sack.
Dear Dancer,
I'm an acupuncture student and understand it to a degree. Acupuncture can help with emotional issues associated with the stress of the transition. It can help with nausea, indigestion, and lack of appetite. It can help alleviate pain. Most commonly it's used in conjunction with pain med's to reduce the quantity of pain med's needed. Acupuncture has been around for some 4,500 years, it's still not fully understood why it works, but that's less important than the fact that it does work.
Nonsense. Get in the sack you horse-@!$%# peddler while I get a big stick.
Enough already! Enough suffering! Just put aside the Billions all you Pharms and Drs are putting in your wallets and CURE CANCER! Its a virus! CURE CANCER NOW!
Keith, cancer is not a virus or a bacteria. By the time anybody is 20 years old, they've probably had cancer 30 to 50 times, but the immune system is strong enough in our youth to quickly eliminate cancer in most cases. And yes I do recognize that cancer does severely effect and kill some children. Cancer is an abnormal growth of cells in the body. The kinds of cells vary widely, but they are fast reproducing like our epithelial cells. There are carcinogenic substances, but for the most part, cancer occurs and grows unaturally in the body, and is not an external pathogenic factor. I only use the word unaturally as it is not a desirable occurence.
guy--my mom-in-law has chronic pain in her back from spontaneous fractures of 6 of her vertebra, so she is not a candidate for surgery. Her back continues to deteriorate, and we have begun to talk of finding things that can help with the pain besides a further increase in her pain meds. She is otherwise a very active 85 year old living independently with all her brain intact (yay!) Gregg and I go up to her house on the weekends to help her with the physical things she can't do for herself anymore. I'm going to show Gregg this article, and talk to both of them about acupuncture, and the other things mentioned in the article. Good luck with your acupuncture studies! When it comes to cancer, I do believe that viruses can be a part of the etiology of some cancers, such as the Papilla (sp?) virus that is connected to uterine cancer. Everything else you said about cancer I totally agree with:)
Medical marijuana. Has been very helpful in reducing nausea and dulling pain. Side effect is controversial. It makes you high as a kite. Many use it because they like to get high. Many use mild or non-existent symptoms as an excuse to get high. (like a mild headache) MJ is addictive in the same way that alcohol is addictive. To think and argue about its use honestly and effectively, both sides of the issues must be addressed. However in the case of a patient with cancer or severe pain that can't keep their food down and is wasting away, the side effect of getting high becomes a moot point. MJ is extremely helpful in this circumstance. And no, I don't get high. I don't even drink near beer. The ridiculous side of the coin is making excuses to get high, like "hey I think its good for you" has no clinical support and is a foolish excuse to foster and continue addiction.
Guy--I have to disagree with you on the "MJ is addictive the same way that alcohol is addictive." It is not the same kind of addiction at all. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, and as such, withdrawal can be fatal (seizures). MJ is mostly psychologically addictive. I am a retired Substance Abuse Counselor, so this is right up my alley/education/work experience. I've had a few clients in the past who had headaches upon stopping MJ, but the greatest challenge by far was the psychological. I agree though, that those who are genuinely very sick have a legitimate need for MJ, and the side effect of getting high, indeed, is moot point. My sisters first husband died of leukemia--the doctors at the hospital where he was at gave him Marinol (derivitive of MJ) towards the end. Definitely a moot point!
BTW, I also agree that there are those who use anything as an excuse for 'medical' use. They make it all the more difficult for those who have genuine legitimate need. Like you, I don't get high or drink either--I got interested in Substance Abuse Counseling due to the fact that I enjoy working with people, helping people, find psychology fascinating, and I have several alcoholics and addicts in my family tree--today most of them are in recovery, thank God!
I have lung cancer(Non small cell). My son has brain cancer(astrocytoma). Any and all therapy is needed to relieve some of the side effects of chemo and radiation. Insurance companies should be compelled to provide these therapies. Taking poison as a cure is what we have now. Effective but the side effects are terrible.
.........
Herbal therapy is the oldest known cure for most of mans ailments.
That Herb is Cannabis...
Google it...
FDA and its affiliates in pharmacy sales worked for yours to eridicate a doctor by the name of Bursynsky who created a very viable and non-toic treatment for cancer. He is in Texas but had to spend millions to practice his measures to treat and even cure many cancer patients. This is fact for those who doubt and is easily researched. There is no money, as horrible as this sounds, in the cure; it takes too much money out of the hands of those who use the known methods of chemo and radiation which are extremely toxic and it takes money out of the hands of the chemical and pharmaceutical companies. Money is the root of the cause and man's greed and cold disregard for others.
So this cancer cure is free then? you can just call the guy and get it at no cost? or is the guy charging you something? is the guy..... making money off of people with cancer? yes this guy lost a lot of money due to lawsuits, as he should have, you can't go around claiming to have a medical treatment for something without actually being able to regeriously back it up.
None of these "alternatives" have withstood study. At best the alternative medicines work on placebo effects. That is why "sham" acupuncture works exactly like "real" acupuncture.
My oncologist has done this for years!
Good thing for the quackery or I would be dead, the treatment (torture) offered by conventional medicine no thanks. In 2003 I was told by 3 doctors that if I walk out that door I would die or worse… go figure the “worse” was the treatment they offered. To put my disease in remission I read much from the “so called quacks” I used probiotics, diet, supplements, herbs, acupuncture and my body did the rest. The immune system can cure most anything if it is functioning properly. The poisons given my modern medicine only hurt your immune system. You need to enhance, balance, and strengthen your immune system for healing modern medicine is all about block, cut, burn or poison. Modern medicine has its place but in is not in curing chronic diseases
People, check out HIFIwellness.com, I'm not kidding, I bought one of thes vibrating massage tables, and it is linked to a bluetooth with head phones and the different levels of vibration, called Acoustic therphy. it offers 40hz 68hz, 90hz and many more. Healing for your body. Check out the new stuff, not the old medicine.
Check out Gregg Braden, there are other things that are natural, and work....
Get in the sack.
Acupuncture? There is no scientific evidence that acupuncture does anything. Hundreds of studies have proved that. By running this story in the manner that you have chosen, it appears as though you are promoting it. NBC has done a disservice to its viewers. Just look at all the kooks that have come out of the woodwork to comment. What's next - homeopathy?
There is a new way to solve your body aches: BRT (Brain Reset Therapy). You people have never seen anything like this:
(Person who created)
(1:9. We have 365 pin points throughout the body. First, lady with yellow dress with neck issues and gets miraculous results and young guy who has been suffering disc problem tries next.)
(He even through surgery but no impressive results. After he goes through the session, he gets remarkable results. Next young guy has neck and shoulder issues through excessive dances. He gets remarkable results as well with dancing ceremony. He shows how to do it by snapping with all the finger points together.)
(He reveals which pin points to use for each types of pain. Two other guys comes out and tries bending over and see how far they go. First guy with sunglasses has bad back and second guy (normal guy) with pink shirt tries and gets significant result after FTF.)
(Guy with sunglasses gets miraculous results after FTF. Right after that, a woman and a man comes out and experiences an energy transfer.)
(Final couple comes out and experiences energy transfer. Watch only a first minute.)
Anyone can do this any time, any place, anywhere. There are no side effects from this and you can do many times as you want. Try it. You will see how effective this is!!! you will see results less than a minute!!!
There is a new way to solve your body aches: BRT (Brain Reset Therapy). You people have never seen anything like this:
(Person who created)
(1:9. We have 365 pin points throughout the body. First, lady with yellow dress with neck issues and gets miraculous results and young guy who has been suffering disc problem tries next.)
(He even through surgery but no impressive results. After he goes through the session, he gets remarkable results. Next young guy has neck and shoulder issues through excessive dances. He gets remarkable results as well with dancing ceremony. He shows how to do it by snapping with all the finger points together.)
(He reveals which pin points to use for each types of pain. Two other guys comes out and tries bending over and see how far they go. First guy with sunglasses has bad back and second guy (normal guy) with pink shirt tries and gets significant result after FTF.)
(Guy with sunglasses gets miraculous results after FTF. Right after that, a woman and a man comes out and experiences an energy transfer.)
(Final couple comes out and experiences energy transfer. Watch only a first minute.)
Anyone can do this any time, any place, anywhere. There are no side effects from this and you can do many times as you want. Try it. You will see how effective this is!!! you will see results less than a minute!!!
Here are the videos in order (everything is narrated in Korean):
To see all the videos that I'm talking about, go to youtube address
(Watch 8~12)
(Person who created BRT)
WAMPUM!!!!
GANGNUM STYLE!!!!
Just watched the second part of this series - on back pain.
I was very disappointed at the lack of mention that most chronic back pain is a psychophysiologic disorder, known as MBS (mind-body syndrome) and is due to central sensitization and learned nerve pathways. I cringe when I see discussion of implantable neural stimulators, surgery, injections, etc. Why not fix the pain at the source, in the CNS (central nervous system). By far, most cases of spinal pain are non-pathological. The trend to use MRI's and say, "look there, a bulging disc, arthritis, stenosis, that is causing your pain" isn't even supported by published medical research. I work in physiotherapy and am the first to say that you need to address the mind first... but to affirm that your pain is 100% real - just needs to be reframed and understood through the lens of the autonomic and central nervous system - the mind-body connection - meaning the brain-body connection. Pain produced by the brain is as real as pain caused by a fracture - just different mechanisms and pathways. To learn more about MBS - look up Dr. Howard Schubiner at Wayne State University who is a leading expert in this area. Future media surrounding back pain needs to make it clear to people that much of chronic neck and back pain is psychophysiologic and can be remedied with proper mind-body medicine training.