Hi everyone. I recently returned from CAM Expo East in New York City, where I spoke on a keynote panel entitled "Integrative Oncology." CAM Expo East is one of the country's major annual conferences dedicated to the exploration of complementary and alternative approaches to health.
The conference was a wonderful experience, with practitioners and experts in the field attending from all over the country. It was inspiring to see how far integrative oncology—which combines safe and effective complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies with conventional cancer care—has come in attaining credibility in mainstream medicine. This is largely because of many strong, scientific studies that document the safety and benefits of a wide variety of CAM modalities, particularly for people with cancer.
Today—in the future—I'll be discussing some of the most important and exciting developments in this field, and how they can make a difference for you and your loved ones as you navigate the journey through cancer.
In preparation for the CAM Expo, I did an extensive review of the scientific literature on the benefits of various CAM therapies for people with cancer. I was impressed by the number and quality of studies already published in this arena. A large number of additional studies are also under way at such prestigious institutions as MD Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the National Cancer Institute, and many others.
An exhaustive summary of these studies would fill a large book. One clear nugget I can share with you today, however, relates to four very commonly used CAM therapies: acupuncture, massage, yoga, and mind-body interventions, such as guided imagery, meditation, and relaxation. Numerous studies in the medical literature now demonstrate unequivocal benefits from these modalities for people with cancer. Some of the most well-known and well-documented benefits include improvements in anxiety, depression, insomnia, fatigue, and pain. Acupuncture and massage have also specifically been proven effective in reducing treatment-related nausea and vomiting. These findings are good news for many patients who are searching for meaningful options to enhance their well-being and promote deeper levels of healing.
To learn more, visit the "Your Wellbeing" section of www.Caring4Cancer.com. You can also sign up to receive The Seven Levels of Healing e-newsletters, which provide additional helpful ideas, suggestions, and information (see the e-newsletter "Sign Up Now" page on the website). If you have any questions or comments, please post them on The Seven Levels of Healing message board. I look forward to hearing from you!
Posted
Mar 14 2007, 10:19 AM
by
DrJeremyGeffen