Easing Cancer Treatment with Integrative Medicine

Cancer and wellness might not sound like they would go together. But when certain complementary therapies are used in conjunction with standard cancer treatments, patients get the best of both worlds—curative and supportive. This is known as integrative oncology or integrative medicine for cancer care.

Kimmi Patterson on

Woman with cancer meditating outside
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What Is Integrative Medicine?

Chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy and hormone therapy are the “gold standard” in cancer treatments.  While these therapies are usually the stars of the treatment program, they frequently come with troublesome side effects like pain, nausea and fatigue. Not to mention the mental and emotional challenges that are part of the complex journey of navigating through cancer. This is where integrative medicine comes in.

To help manage side effects, your doctor may recommend combining standard cancer treatments with non-drug therapies, such as acupuncture, massage or yoga. This is called an integrative approach to cancer care or integrative oncology.

Integrative medicine doesn’t replace traditional cancer treatments. Instead, it combines standard care or “conventional” medicine with evidence-based complementary therapies. These complementary interventions are intended to support the whole person in body, mind and spirit while the patient undergoes traditional cancer therapies. This collaboration addresses not only the cancer but also the comfort, emotional well-being and overall health of the patient.

Common Integrative Approaches to Cancer Treatment

Countless integrative therapies exist and come from all over the world. Some have been continuously practiced for thousands of years. While some of these interventions have not been widely studied, there is research that offers evidence in support of some complementary therapies.  For example, in 2023, the Society for Integrative Oncology and the American Society for Clinical Oncology collaborated to develop and publish guidelines around which integrative therapies have been proven to effectively improve symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with cancer. Other therapies work to alleviate pain, fatigue and other common side effects, as well as reduce distress and promote relaxation, and quite a few do both.

Some people combine several complementary therapies to feel their best during and after cancer treatment. An integrative approach is personalized for you and includes collaboration between your oncology treatment team and the complementary practitioners to assure safety and to determine what is right for you to feel your best.

A few of the most commonly used complementary therapies are:

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the oldest specialized medical therapies. For centuries, it has been used to help treat, manage and prevent many health problems. During an acupuncture session, a trained professional inserts thin, sterile needles into specific areas of your body. Research studies have shown that acupuncture helps relieve nausea, which is a common complication of cancer treatment. Acupuncture also helps with cancer pain, postoperative pain, muscle and joint pain, peripheral neuropathy, hot flashes, fatigue, dry mouth, swelling typically in the arms or legs from surgery, bowel-related issues, anxiety, sleep problems, and other symptoms of cancer.

Ideally, a patient with cancer should work with an acupuncturist who has received special training in treating oncology patients, as there are contraindications and guidelines to follow that promote safety and prevent adverse side effects. Acupressure can be administered for those contraindicated to be needled or have an aversion to needles. 

Healing/Therapeutic Touch

Healing or therapeutic touch involves gently placing hands over specific areas of the body to promote energy flow or encourage relaxation. Research has shown that Healing Touch®, a nursing practice and certification, can help with pain, nausea, anxiety, fatigue and increased perceived quality of life.

Reiki, a popular form of healing touch, originated in Japan. This practice is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us all. The Reiki practitioner has received special training on how and where to share this energy to promote healing and well-being. It is generally safe, gentle and “profoundly relaxing.” It is important to note that while Reiki energy is spiritual in nature, it is not a religious practice.

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy has been used in most cultures around the world throughout human history to help manage health conditions and enhance wellness. It was one of the earliest methods used for pain relief. There are many forms and techniques, but in general, massage therapy is when a trained person uses their hands to rub and press muscles and tissues in the body to help someone feel better. Extensive research has demonstrated that this therapy is generally safe and effective for pain relief, reducing nausea, lessening feelings of depression, easing fatigue, helping to prevent neuropathy and alleviating lymphedema when done by a specially trained lymphedema-certified therapist.

Ideally, a patient with cancer will work with a massage therapist who has received special training in oncology massage. Self-massage and self-acupressure may also be helpful. To ensure your safety and the best results, you should always talk to your oncology team about what is safe for your body and to your massage therapist about your cancer treatments.

Meditation and Mindfulness

Meditation has been practiced in many traditions worldwide for thousands of years. It is primarily used to help calm the mind and body. While many types of meditation encourage stillness and “quieting the mind,” there are also guided meditations and moving meditations, such as tai chi, qi gong and walking meditations.

Mindfulness is a well-researched meditation technique that teaches people to be open and aware of their feelings, thoughts, emotions and experiences and accept them without judgment. It can be done anywhere at any time. Research shows that mindfulness may help those impacted by cancer by decreasing feelings of stress, depression and anxiety, improving overall spiritual and psychological well-being, decreasing pain levels, improving fatigue, and improving sleep. Additionally, mindfulness can help caregivers respond to challenges with greater ease. Specifically, according to the Society of Integrated Oncology, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) has the strongest recommendation for treating anxiety and depression related to cancer. There is high-quality evidence for symptom improvement during and after the treatment period.

Here are a few resources to try:

Tai Chi

Tai chi is a gentle exercise practice that combines slow, purposeful movements, controlled breathing and meditation. Originally an ancient martial art from China, it has evolved to focus more on health promotion and rehabilitation.

A recent systematic review found that tai chi significantly improved the overall quality of life in breast cancer patients at three months compared to conventional therapy. It also found that using tai chi and conventional therapy together improved fatigue better than conventional therapy alone.  

Additionally, some studies found that tai chi may improve balance, prevent falls and reduce pain in some conditions. It’s also a good example of a low-intensity exercise that can be done when energy levels are low.

Yoga

The ancient art of yoga has a rich and complex history that originated in India. In addition to the physical poses (asanas) and breathwork (pranayama) that are popular in our culture today, the early texts and teachings also included mental, moral and spiritual concepts that were considered essential to life and well-being.

Research has indicated that yoga, particularly breathwork, may improve the quality of life in cancer patients and reduce or regulate feelings of depression, anxiety and psychological distress. Other studies found that yoga, especially stretching, may help manage fatigue, pain and sleep problems.

A good yoga teacher can offer modifications for all of the poses so that they are accessible to all bodies. These include different body placements or alignments and the use of props, like blocks, straps, bolsters and blankets. Entire yoga classes can also be performed on or using a chair. There are also organizations, such as Yoga4Cancer, that offer evidence-informed Oncology Yoga, which is tailored to address the specific physical and emotional needs of those impacted by cancer and cancer treatments.

Here are a few resources to try:

  • Gentle Chair Yoga: This short sequence is a gently modified yoga practice that can be done at any time of the day.
  • Gentle Standing Yoga: This video is a short, gentle, modified yoga practice. It can be done anywhere. A chair or the kitchen counter can be used if needed for balance. 

Art Therapy and Therapeutic Art

Art therapy is a mental health profession that uses painting, drawing and other forms of creative expression to improve mental and emotional well-being. It helps people express feelings and thoughts that are otherwise difficult to communicate. True art therapy is led by a credentialed mental health professional trained in art therapy who uses art within a mental health framework.

While art therapy hasn’t been studied extensively, a recent pilot study analyzed its effects on 50 chemotherapy patients. The results suggested that art therapy improved patients’ mood and reduced pain and anxiety. The effects were felt immediately, and the reduction in pain and depression lasted 48-72 hours.

Fortunately, art can still be therapeutic, even without the leadership of an art therapist. This is called therapeutic art or art making. Art classes with friends, adult coloring books, taking pictures at the nearby lake, building and painting a doll or birdhouse, crocheting a doggie jacket—the options are endless! The purpose is to be creative, feel happy, relax and let go. Plus, a preliminary study found that older persons reported that “art making” distracted them from their pain, so it could be a useful pain management tool.

Try these therapeutic art projects:

Additional Integrative Therapies

The science behind these therapies and their impact on cancer treatment is still developing. However, they are low-risk and relatively low-cost options you may want to consider.

  • Aromatherapy: This therapy involves smelling or applying the essential oils of different plants and herbs. For example, you may add lavender oil, which has a calming effect, to your bath water or use it on your skin mixed with lotion.
  • Spiritual practices: Spiritual health is a common and important coping tool for many cancer patients and their families. Spiritual people have religious needs specific to their faith. They may choose to engage in prayer, hymning and other practices that calm them and create a strong spiritual connection.
  • Journaling: This is a simple activity for documenting life experiences, including thoughts, feelings, actions of the day, future goals and gratitude. Journals can be written with pen and paper, digitally on a computer or mobile device, or using voice or video recordings.
  • Nature-based interventions: These are activities that revolve around “getting outside” and being in a natural environment. Often based on Attention Restoration Theory or ART, this theory suggests that exposure to natural environments may restore one’s ability to concentrate. In addition, there are many other benefits to slowing down, disconnecting from our screens, and experiencing awe, the feeling we get when trying to make sense of the world. University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health will be partnering with Nature Worx, a local non-profit organization, to provide nature-based therapies for the cancer patients at Kaufman Cancer Center.

How to Find Integrative Medicine

If you want to try integrative therapies for cancer, it’s best to talk to your doctor about which ones are best for you and your health. Most are safe when provided by someone trained in that integrative medicine modality, but some integrative therapies can interfere with cancer treatment and should be either modified or avoided. For example, your doctor may not recommend a full-body massage if you have blood clots.

Research the different types of integrative therapies, note which sounds appealing to you and then talk with your cancer team about those you’re most interested in. In some cases, your providers may be able to recommend an integrative medicine professional or organization they’ve worked with in the past. Test out those that sound interesting. Try different types, such as therapeutic art or tai chi, and note how you feel afterward.

Integrative Medicine at UMMS

Interested in an integrative approach to cancer treatment?

Learn more about cancer care at the University of Maryland Medical System.

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Medically reviewed by Patsy Astarita, LCSW-C, OSW-C, APHSW-C, Director, Oncology Integrated Health at UM Upper Chesapeake Health, and Dr. Colleen Curran, LAc, Lead Acupuncture Clinician, Kaufman Cancer Center at UM Upper Chesapeake Health

Posted by Kimmi Patterson

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