Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
No doubt a cancer diagnosis is one of the toughest experiences anyone should have to face. A multitude of decisions are needed often made with doubt, uncertainty, and even fear. One of the most critical decisions is determining what treatment plan is best. A majority of the time, conventional treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery are default choices dictated often by conventional insurance. However, these therapies often come with adverse side effects like nausea, hair loss, and pain as treatments may not be as targeted and precise as needed and therefore end up affecting both healthy and cancerous cells. Results are dependent on many factors but a positive outcome is never certain, particularly with advanced staged cancers. For example, there is an over 90% failure rate with chemotherapy for stage IV cancers.
By contrast, more and more patients are considering other alternative therapies that are more holistic and naturopathic which can serve as a complement to or a replacement for conventional treatments. If you are considering alternative therapies, you’re not alone and are among a growing number of informed patients who are researching for evidence-based solutions that best meet their care needs. To help you make the best decision, here are some key insights to consider.
What are alternative therapies?
Alternative medicine encompasses a wide range of modalities. These therapies range from simple approaches like nutrition and supplements to more innovative treatments like immunotherapy and Cellsonic therapy. A common theme to these therapies is treating the body so that the immune system receives a boost to perform its function at the highest levels. Here are a few more specifics to the therapies just mentioned:
· Immunotherapy harnesses the body’s immune system and is the most exciting development in cancer treatment in years. Certain cancer cells produce proteins that “cloak” them from being recognized by the immune system. Immunotherapy drugs in essence work by blocking those proteins from working thus making those cancer cells visible to the body’s natural immune system. Although immunotherapy is a viable option, it is important to understand the unique body makeup of every individual before utilizing this modality. If a patient is not an appropriate candidate, side effects can result much like those from other pharmaceutical drugs.
· Cellsonic therapy utilizes an electrohydraulic machine to generate a series of pressure pulses directed at a wound or surrounding area. The number of pulses and power can be adjusted and the result is that they stimulate the body to repair itself. Some common outcomes from the therapy towards fighting cancer include triggering stem cell production, increasing blood flow to repair tissue, reducing pain from inflammation and swelling, and killing bacteria and swelling.
Partner with an understanding and skilled team
It is important to have the best knowledge and support you can acquire when coming to a treatment decision. You don’t have to go through cancer alone and a strong and caring healthcare team will make all the difference for you and your support group of family and friends. Knowledge is power and pay close attention to potential providers’ motivation. Are they interested in helping you get the best information to make the best treatment decision or are they interested in just enrolling you into a one-size fits all program? Ask about the various therapies including what is done to properly diagnose the type of cancer you have with precision. Do they have a supportive staff and do they provide long-term follow-up care and support? In the end, are they interested in helping you truly understand the root causes of how you received cancer in the first place so they can stop your cancer once and from all from the source?
The Final Decision
You have the final call for your care and the power to make it happen. The best options and potential healthcare providers will work on making you even more informed to make the best decision. They will take the time to explain and also show you the science behind the latest alternative modalities. Their staff should be knowledgeable as well as compassionate which is a rare combination. At the Dayspring Cancer Clinic, we have been leading the innovation behind developing evidence-based alternative therapies for close to 20 years. We tailor every care program with therapies that will best match the need of a patient’s cancer based on precision testing and diagnosis. This approach increases the likelihood for a positive outcome for our patients and their care providers. To find out more or to schedule your personalized therapies, please call our patient care coordinator at 480-699-7400.