First Person Account of Integrative Treatment
The best way to become familiar with exactly what integrative oncology is all about is to learn it first hand from someone who has done it. A recent article in Natural Solutions magazine by Erin Quinn chronicled the experiences of Dr. Maria Claudia White. Dr. White, at the age of 52, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her cancer was about the worst type she could have. She had the BRACAI gene mutation, and her mother died form the disease at the age of 45. This increased her odds of breast cancer by 60% to 80%. The lump in her breast was also a triple-negative tumor which is much more difficult to treat than most. Her prognosis for survival is not good at all.
Maria’s oncologist at Duke University Medical Center recommended an aggressive treatment that included surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. To her surprise, the oncologist also recommended that she check out complementary therapies at Duke integrative Medicine. Her oncologist counseled her about how much support the body needs to fight this disease. She said the body is actually working harder than the chemotherapy or radiation. She related that the oncologists don’t know everything, especially concerning complementary therapies. A good doctor will be willing to explore treatments additional to traditional ones.
Maria researched numerous integrative treatments and practitioners. Between her research and her oncologist’s counsel, she decided to begin sessions of mind-body therapy, integrative nutrition, hypnotherapy, acupuncture, and biofeedback treatments. She believed she needed to do everything she could to make her body as hostile an environment as possible for cancer.
In the next few blog posts, I will cover Maria White’s experiences with her complementary treatments. It will be a special opportunity for you to gain first-hand knowledge of what is involved in and the advantages of integrative oncology. Come back to this site often.