Integrative Cancer Treatments

Big problem! Many patients who have been treated for cancer are left with some degree of neuropathy if they received a taxane or other neurotoxic chemo. I have a couple of suggestions. Acupuncture is a good treatment for neuropathy. It has only been looked at in a very small group of cancer patients but it works for other causes of neuropathy. No offense to your acupuncturist intended, but another acupuncturist may approach it slightly differently. So before you give up on that, try another practitioner at least once a week for 10 treatments before you throw in the towel. The other recommendation I have is for alpha lipoic acid 600mg per day. This should not be used while you are still getting chemotherapy or radiation since it is a potent anti-oxidant and will interfere with those therapies. Other suggestions are those therapies that are good for pain in general including guided imagery, massage, and hypnotherapy. Good luck! Big problem! Many patients who have been treated for cancer are left with some degree of neuropathy if they received a taxane or other neurotoxic chemo. I have a couple of suggestions. Acupuncture is a good treatment for neuropathy. It has only been looked at in a very small group of cancer patients but it works for other causes of neuropathy. No offense to your acupuncturist intended, but another acupuncturist may approach it slightly differently. So before you give up on that, try another practitioner at least once a week for 10 treatments before you throw in the towel. The other recommendation I have is for alpha lipoic acid 600mg per day. This should not be used while you are still getting chemotherapy or radiation since it is a potent anti-oxidant and will interfere with those therapies. Other suggestions are those therapies that are good for pain in general including guided imagery, massage, and hypnotherapy. Good luck!

My PubMed search on "coffee enema" returned 4 citations. Two were about rectal burns caused by a hot coffee enema and a third was about acute colitis caused by a coffee enema. The fourth was either an editorial or a review but the abstract was not available so I don't know whether or not that paper contained a rational and evidence-based use for coffee enemas or not. Patients often ask me about using coffee enemas for a "detoxification" regimen. I can't find any evidence to support that, it doesn't make sense to my conventionally trained (yet open) mind, and it is potentially dangerous (though I am amazed that anyone actually uses HOT coffee). The danger I would worry about is potential electrolyte imbalances. So no, I don't recommend them. My PubMed search on "coffee enema" returned 4 citations. Two were about rectal burns caused by a hot coffee enema and a third was about acute colitis caused by a coffee enema. The fourth was either an editorial or a review but the abstract was not available so I don't know whether or not that paper contained a rational and evidence-based use for coffee enemas or not. Patients often ask me about using coffee enemas for a "detoxification" regimen. I can't find any evidence to support that, it doesn't make sense to my conventionally trained (yet open) mind, and it is potentially dangerous (though I am amazed that anyone actually uses HOT coffee). The danger I would worry about is potential electrolyte imbalances. So no, I don't recommend them.

I have been unable to find resources for 'long-term' integrative care. There are temporary solutions like the You Can Thrive wellness center that offer intergrative therapies for low-income women or independent hospital clinical trials. Even when they do exist, the communication is not widely available to those who need it the most. As you know, consistency is key to impact overall health and prevention. I started a free 6-month program at Columbia University Medical Center where I led holistic nutrition classes and worked with a yoga instructor/survivor. We had special guests come in and offer integrative therapy instruction and treatment at no additional cost to the participant. While it was incredibly successful, it was also temporary. We are currently working on an ongoing program. I have been unable to find resources for 'long-term' integrative care. There are temporary solutions like the You Can Thrive wellness center that offer intergrative therapies for low-income women or independent hospital clinical trials. Even when they do exist, the communication is not widely available to those who need it the most. As you know, consistency is key to impact overall health and prevention. I started a free 6-month program at Columbia University Medical Center where I led holistic nutrition classes and worked with a yoga instructor/survivor. We had special guests come in and offer integrative therapy instruction and treatment at no additional cost to the participant. While it was incredibly successful, it was also temporary. We are currently working on an ongoing program.