The Blurred Line of Cancer Treatment
The news media have an insatiable appetite for celebrities with cancer. In yesterday’s blog, I noted the recent coverage of Farrah Fawcett, Ted Kennedy, and Patrick Swayze. In the recent past, we also heard much about Elizabeth Edwards, Tony Snow, Peter Jennings, Sheryl Crow, Fran Drescher, Cokie Roberts, Kylie Minogue, Robin Roberts, Jerry Orbach, Kathy Bates, and the list is endless. The response to the disease by these prominent victims has been wide ranging. Some are in remission, some are in treatment, and some have died. Most were treated by conventional therapy alone. A few embraced alternative treatments outside the United States. I will address some of their experiences specifically in future blog posts.
The ubiquitous coverage of celebrities with cancer is creating a much increased awareness of treatment options. Although conventional treatment is still the standard, terms like alternative, complementary, integrative, holistic, naturopathic, and eastern medicine are thrown around to describe treatment outside the conventional. The lines between conventional treatment and everything else are blurred to say the least. The confusion can be eliminated by dividing these terms into three categories: conventional, alternative, and integrative. Conventional therapy is exclusively the three traditional practices of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Alternative therapy is the practice of anything that is instead of, or in place of, conventional therapy. Integrative therapy is the practice of certain treatments that enhance the effectiveness of, and/or reduce the complications of, conventional therapy. Integrative therapy can include some types of alternative therapies, but are integrated with conventional therapy.
The new strategy advocated by this blog is to significantly increase the awareness and use of integrative therapy. We do not oppose conventional therapy, but believe that many complementary options must be used to increase its efficacy and reduce its side effects. Conventional therapy has proven unable to defeat cancer on a grand scale. Numerous natural and non-toxic modalities have proven successful in helping the patient process and tolerate conventional treatments. The result is remission, comfort, and a better quality of life for a longer period.
I wish no one had to suffer cancer and hold hope that we will get to that point soon. In the meantime, I am thankful that those who battle it, especially celebrities with a platform, call our attention to it. We just have to be smarter about how best to fight it.