How Does Integrated Oncology Help In Cancer Management?

The word ‘cancer’ itself induces fear and panic in people worldwide. It is one of the most dreaded diseases due to its aggressive nature and low survival rate. There are over 100 types of cancers, affecting different parts or organs of the body. The most common ones are skin cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, blood cancer, and prostate cancer.

Of these, some forms of cancer cause the cells to grow rapidly, while others lead to the division and growth of cells at a slower rate. Over the decades, innovative research has paved the way for modern technologies and medications for cancer treatment/management. One such branch of medicine is Integrated Oncology.

How does Integrated Oncology help in cancer management?

Integrated Oncology is a palliative approach that aims to relieve symptoms of cancer and improve one’s quality of life. It can be used at any stage of the disease, provided the symptoms are causing trouble. The doctor/specialist may also recommend palliative care to ease the side effects of cancer treatments. Recent studies have found evidence showing that the following procedures work well for cancer management –

• High-dose Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a rich antioxidant found in dietary supplements and fruits like grapefruit, oranges, kale etc. Vitamin C prevents damage to the cells caused by free radicals and plays a crucial role in collagen formation. High dose of Vitamin C can be given orally or intravenously. However, the vitamin reaches higher levels in the blood when administered through an IV infusion rather than taken orally. Cancer patients who have been given a high dose of Vitamin C have shown improvement in the quality of life and fewer side effects in clinical trials.

• Artesunate

Initially, artesunate drug was designed to battle malaria. However, recently it has shown promising results in the treatment of cancer. Artesunate can be used in combination with chemotherapy to better the chances of recovery in patients with advanced cancer. Cancer cells tend to absorb iron at high levels. This, in turn, accelerates the rate of mutation within the cells. When iron reacts with oxygen, it forms free radicals (reactive molecules) that damage the DNA cells. In normal, healthy cells, the reaction may pose a problem. However, in cancer cells, it allows for mutation and development of resistance to therapies. Thus, artesunate uses iron within the cells against them.

• Curcumin

Curcumin found in turmeric has been used in Ayurveda to treat a host of ailments. In recent times, some studies have suggested that the substance may help slow down or prevent the progression of cancer.

Curcumin consists of antioxidant properties, which reduces inflammation and swelling. Since inflammation has a part to play in cancer, experts have resorted to the curcumin for the preparation of cancer medicines. Besides, lab studies have revealed that curcumin, as a palliative care approach, protect the healthy cells from damage caused by radiation, and makes chemotherapy more effective. Research is still going on to determine the effectiveness of the above procedures in cancer management. Nevertheless, providing palliative care to the patient suffering from debilitating cancer is important. It not only helps one deal with the grave disease physically but also emotionally.