Linda Rider, Author at Geneology International

Alternatives to Chemotherapy: Holistic Options and Research

When you are diagnosed with cancer, you may be looking to take control of the situation by researching all the treatment options available. You may begin to look into alternatives to conventional treatments like chemotherapy.

In some cases, complementary therapy can help ease symptoms caused by the cancer or side effects caused by cancer treatment. But little is known about the effectiveness of using alternative treatments as the sole treatment for cancer.

Before you decide on a treatment plan, you should speak to your cancer team about the options you have available.

This article explores alternatives to chemotherapy.

Morsa Images / Getty Images

The Problem With Chemotherapy

The number of patients who make the decision not to use chemotherapy as a cancer treatment is not well known. Studies have reported rates of less than 1{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} for patients who refused all conventional treatment and 3{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} to 19{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} for patients who refused chemotherapy partially or completely.

But why would anyone choose to not go ahead with chemotherapy if it was recommended by their oncologist? The side effects can be numerous and include:

Fatigue
Hair loss
Easy bruising and bleeding
Infection
Anemia (low red blood cell counts)
Nausea and vomiting
Appetite changes
Mouth, tongue, and throat problems such as sores and pain with swallowing
Skin and nail changes such as dry skin and color change
Urine and bladder changes, and kidney problems
Weight changes

The side effects and degree to which they’re experienced vary largely from person to person and are dependent on the type of chemotherapy drugs received.

Chemotherapy vs. Radiation

The major difference between chemotherapy and radiation is the way the treatments are delivered. Chemotherapy is delivered through an infusion into a vein or medication port, or it can be taken orally. With radiation therapy, beams of radiation are focused on a specific area in your body.

Radiation therapy is a treatment that uses high-energy X-rays (or proton beams) to destroy cancer cells. Short-term side effects of radiation therapy often include redness (like a sunburn), inflammation of the area which receives radiation, and fatigue.

Potential Benefits of Alternative Medicine

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is the term for medical products and practices that are not part of standard medical care. People with cancer may use CAM to:

Help cope with the side effects of cancer treatments, such as nausea, pain, and fatigue
Comfort themselves and ease the worries of cancer treatment and related stress
Feel that they are doing something to help with their own care
Try to treat or cure their cancer

You may hear the term “holistic medicine” referred to in cancer treatment. Holistic care treats the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. That typically means a combination of conventional and complementary medicine.

What Is CAM for Cancer?

The prevalence of CAM use among cancer patients has been rising over the last few decades. The terms “alternative” and “complementary” are used to describe many kinds of products, practices, and treatments.

Alternative therapy refers to non-standard treatment used in place of standard treatment, while complementary therapy usually means methods used along with standard treatment.

Alternative and complementary therapies are often appealing because they use your own body, your own mind, or things that may be found in nature. But sometimes these methods wrongly claim to prevent, diagnose, or treat cancer even when they have not been proven to work through scientific testing.

Some complementary methods have been studied and shown to help people feel better under a doctor’s care. Examples might include meditation to reduce stress, or acupuncture to reduce pain and nausea.

Alternatives to Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is not the only way to treat cancer. A variety of different treatment options are available, some that may be used alone or in combination with other treatments.

Medical

Surgery: With a few exceptions (such as blood-related cancers like leukemia), when surgery is an option, it offers the best chance to cure a cancer or at least significantly reduce the chance that it could recur.
Targeted therapies: These are medications designed to target cancer cells specifically. As such, they are often less harmful to normal cells. Many of the more recently approved drugs for cancer are targeted therapies, and more are being evaluated in clinical trials.
Immunotherapy: This is an exciting new approach to treating cancer. There are many different types of immunotherapy, but the commonality is that these drugs work by either altering the body’s immune system or by using products of the immune system to fight cancer.
Active surveillance: Also called watchful waiting, this may be all that’s needed for certain types of cancers. Your doctor may recommend this approach if the cancer is at an early stage and is growing slowly or not at all.

Holistic

Complementary and alternative therapy may include a wide range of treatments, including:

Herbal and dietary supplements and vitamins: One large study found the CAM most commonly reported was vitamin use, with 66{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of patients reporting use of at least one vitamin. Other herbal preparations included green tea, ginger, chaga mushroom, curcumin (turmeric), flaxseed oil, and probiotics. Some herbal medicines may be safe, but others can have severe and dangerous side effects or might interact with other cancer treatments you are taking.
Spirituality: Many patients with cancer rely on spiritual or religious beliefs and practices to help them cope with their disease. This is called spiritual coping.
Diet: There’s no diet that can cure cancer. There’s also no good research that shows that any eating plan, like a vegan diet, for example, can lower the chance of cancer coming back.
Acupuncture: Some studies suggest acupuncture may help with mild pain and some types of nausea.
Art therapy: This is a type of mental health care which, according to the American Art Therapy Association, seeks to improve or restore a patient’s functioning and sense of well-being, and may enhance their quality of life.

Biofeedback: This uses monitoring devices to help people gain conscious control over physical processes that are usually controlled automatically, such as heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, sweating, and muscle tension.
Massage therapy: This can increase alertness and decrease stress, anxiety, depression, and pain, according to some studies.
Meditation: This may have several benefits for people living with cancer, including reduced anxiety and depression, reduced stress, greater energy, and a decrease in chronic pain among other symptoms.

Some CAM therapies have undergone careful evaluation and have been found to be generally safe and effective. However, others do not work, may be harmful, or could interact negatively with your medicines.

It is important to talk to your doctors before trying any CAM therapy.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Some CAM therapies are proven to help with the side effects of cancer and its treatment.
Some may help manage the emotional side effects of living with cancer.
Lifestyle changes such as healthy diet and exercise may be beneficial for body and mind.

Cons

Some CAM therapies do not work, may be harmful, or interact negatively with other medication.
CAM has not been scientifically proven to “cure” or “beat” cancer.
Refusing conventional medicine may shorten life expectancy.

Many people with cancer are afraid to discuss CAM with their doctor. It’s true that many doctors may not know about the uses, risks, and potential benefits of unconventional treatments. But this doesn’t have to stop you from discussing these with your doctor.

You can approach the topic in a number of ways:

If you’re thinking of alternative treatment, let your doctor know what you’re considering. Ask them about any studies on this method and what options you might still have if the alternative treatment doesn’t work.
Look for information from respected sources that you can trust regarding the potential benefits and risks of the treatment you are thinking about.
Make a list of questions, and bring it along to your appointments with any other information you want to talk about.
Listen to what your doctor has to say, and try to understand their point of view.

Once you have all the information, you can make a truly informed decision.

Cancer “Cure” Myths

Cancer is not a single disease, but an umbrella term for more than 200 distinct diseases, all with their own mutations and treatment needs. If a product or therapy is claiming to cure cancer, these claims need to be considered carefully.

Thousands of websites offer alternative therapies for cancer. The Federal Trade Commission has developed a list of claims that should make you suspicious of a website:

Claims of a “scientific breakthrough,” “miraculous cure,” “secret ingredient,” or “ancient remedy”
Claims that a product can cure a wide range of illnesses
Stories of people who’ve had amazing results, but no clear scientific data
Claims that a product is available only from one source, especially if you must pay in advance
Websites that don’t list the company’s name, street address, phone number, and other contact information (It may exist only offshore, away from U.S. laws and regulators.)

Cancer is frightening, but accurate information is important—and organizations like the American Cancer Society have research-backed information available about treatments.

A Word From Verywell

If you have cancer and are interested in herbs, acupuncture, or other alternative treatments, talk to your doctor.

There are many complementary methods you can safely use along with standard treatment to help relieve symptoms or side effects, ease pain, and improve your quality of life. Speak to your doctor so you can choose methods that don’t cause harm and won’t interfere with your cancer treatment.

If you are looking to decline all conventional cancer treatments, you need to be aware of the pros and cons of doing so.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is chemotherapy the only cancer treatment option?

Chemotherapy is only one of many treatment options for cancer. Your treatment will depend on the type of cancer you have, the stage of the cancer (how far it has spread), and your overall health. Other treatment options include surgery, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and complementary medicine.

What is the survival rate of fighting cancer without chemotherapy?

Survival rates are based on statistics that researchers have collected over many years about people with the same type of cancer. But each cancer and each patient is different, and chemotherapy is only one type of treatment, so this is difficult to predict.

How effective is holistic cancer treatment?

Holistic care treats the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. That typically means a combination of traditional and complementary medicine. For instance, a holistic way to treat cancer could include chemotherapy and acupuncture.

Complementary therapy has been found to be effective when used in combination with traditional therapy.

October 5, 2021

South Africa: Eastern Cape Health Services Hamstrung By Staff and Medicine Shortages, Report Finds

Findings of a clinic monitoring report released last week, again highlighted how delivery of health services in the Eastern Cape are hamstrung by staff and medicine shortages.

The COVID-19 pandemic compounded these challenges.

This, the report says, also has far-reaching consequences for the province’s HIV and tuberculosis (TB) programmes.

The report is based on community monitoring conducted at 45 healthcare facilities across the Eastern Cape between April and June, with some additional monitoring in August and September. It is the latest in a series of such provincial monitoring reports published by Ritshidze, a community-led health service monitoring initiative. Spotlight previously reported on Ritshidze reports from the Free State, Limpopo, and the Northwest.

Not enough staff

The report found 133 vacancies in 28 clinics. According to facility managers interviewed as part of the monitoring, the most commonly understaffed categories were professional nurses, enrolled nurses, cleaners, doctors, enrolled nurse assistants, and assistant pharmacists.

Among the worst-performing clinics where patients and facility managers indicated there were not enough staff include Qumbu Community Health Centre, Mqanduli Clinic and Butterworth Gateway Clinic.

The report also notes a shortage of community health workers (CHWs) in some facilities and recorded challenges for CHWs to perform their duties. About 77{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of the facility managers interviewed cited lack of transport for CHWs as a major problem. “Of the facility managers reporting that transport was available, just five said that the transport was reliable,” the report states.

Since CHWs primarily work in communities outside the facilities, the report notes that “these findings reveal an important barrier to the efficacy of the CHW programme in the province”. Other challenges flagged were safety concerns for CHWs working in communities, not enough phones and that patients give wrong numbers. The CHWs are crucial in tracing people living with HIV and TB who have interrupted treatment.

A need for male nurses and councillors

The report also flagged a shortage of male nurses and counsellors at many facilities and that male-specific health services were limited – factors thought to contribute to men being less likely to seek healthcare services.

The Ritshidze data found that only 61{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of the monitored facilities reported having male nurses, counsellors, or healthcare workers at the facility. “Of that 61{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}, only 27{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of facilities said they had male outreach services and 9{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of facilities said they had no male-specific services at all,” the report states.

One healthcare user, Nkosekhaya Gidi from Motherwell, tells Spotlight, “As men, we have that problem of thinking that clinics are meant for women. Men by nature are not willing to share their medical issues with women because when growing up [they’re made to believe] men are always strong. There is no need to see a doctor or a nurse even when one has pain [because] that pain will improve on its own.”

Gidi says having male nurses will definitely help.

A community healthcare worker at Motherwell Clinic suggested that people must forget about the older generation of men and shift the focus to the young people to educate them about the importance of visiting clinics.

“The first thing is to visit boys at primary schools to change their mindset and encourage them to share and open up about their feelings. We all need to address the stigma associated with men visiting clinics, not to mention the pressure of a man that they are always strong. The department needs to strengthen campaigns towards men and must visit their workplaces to talk about these health issues,” the community health worker said.

At Motherwell, the CHW says they have one male nurse and one male CHW serving the area.

Mkhululi Ndamase, spokesperson for Eastern Cape Health MEC Nomakhosazana Meth, tells Spotlight there are “mechanisms [already in place] to respond to many of the issues highlighted in the Ritshidze report. This, he says, includes programmes where the department is taking health services directly to where people live, work, and spend recreational time.

“This is to encourage men to look after their health.”

Big asks but little money

According to Ndiphiwe Bekwaphi, a Ritshidze District Organiser from the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), these factors along with medicine stockouts “directly contribute to people living with HIV starting and staying on treatment, and can be linked to the province only attaining 72{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of people living with HIV who know their status on treatment”.

The report argued that “ensuring access to quality healthcare services and ensuring everyone living with HIV and TB gets access to medicines and care, depend mainly on having enough qualified and committed staff” so, “ensuring that 80{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of vacancies at facilities are filled by March 2022, must be a priority in this province”.

But in July this year, the now-suspended spokesperson for health in the Eastern Cape Sizwe Kupelo cited budget constraints preventing the department from appointing the much-needed staff. Kupelo then said a recruitment process was at “an advanced stage for [appointing] 86 frontline workers”. “These are professional nurses, enrolment nurses, and assistant nurses. They will be placed on a needs basis with clinics and hospitals in desperate need of more workers,” he said.

The superintendent for health in the province, Dr Rolene Wagner this week in an interview with ENCA again cited budget constraints that are now also affecting paying for the basics in goods and services needed at health facilities.

Spotlight asked the department about its plans to address staffing challenges in primary healthcare facilities but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

Medicine shortages

The report also found that in many facilities, patients arrive early in the morning and many would spend the entire day waiting, but are often forced to go home empty-handed. According to the report, this is a consistent and significant cause of dissatisfaction among healthcare users at these facilities.

“Ritshidze monitoring reveals ongoing complaints regarding stockouts and shortages of medicines, and medical tools at sites across the Eastern Cape,” the report notes. Across the facilities monitored, data shows “9{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of people left, or knew someone who left a clinic without the medication that they needed”. “Stockouts and shortages of ARVs, TB medicines, contraceptives, and other medicines,” the report states, “cause disruption, confusion, cost, and can detrimentally affect treatment adherence.”

The most commonly reported medicine shortages cited by patients included contraceptives, HIV medicines, and pregnancy tests. Facility managers interviewed also noted the most common stockouts were of contraceptives and HIV medicines. Almost two-thirds said in case of stockouts they provided patients with alternative medicine, 9{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of them were forced to send people away empty-handed, and 24{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} gave patients a shorter supply.

Among the worst medicine stockout challenges were flagged in OR Tambo and Alfred Nzo Districts. Clinics monitored in these two districts with low scores for medicine stock include the Matatiel, Qumbu, Ngangelizwe, and Maluti Community Health Centres. In July, the Daily Dispatch reported that the province was running out of medicine supplies due to the non-payment of suppliers. It was reported that Sanofi, a pharmaceutical company that supplies the Eastern Cape with essential medicines, including TB, epilepsy, anti-psychosis, and diabetes medication, suspended its supply to the province in March due to non-payment.

But according to Ndamase, the department remains committed to ensuring that there’s enough stock of essential medicines for HIV, TB, and other medications. “Government has prioritised the budget for medicines because it is one of the ‘non-negotiable’ budget lines. This means the budget for medicines has been ring-fenced and cannot be used for other services.”

Ndamase says in the 2019/20 financial year, the budget for ARVs and drug-susceptible TB was R936 700 000, in 2020/21 it dropped to R907 323 000, and in this financial year the department allocated R1 278 700 000 for ARVs and TB medicine.

“When supply shortages do arise, they were caused by the COVID-19 pandemic that caused disruptions of global supply chain systems, with local manufacturers struggling to source raw materials from international markets. This was out of our control,” said Ndamase.

Impact on HIV

The report highlights the risk of having people living with HIV spend an extended time at a clinic simply to collect ARV refills. This, it states, increases the risk of people disengaging from care.

At Motherwell Community Health Centre, it is reported that patients spent on average seven hours, including waiting for it to open, only to be seen for a very short consultation.

A community healthcare worker (CHW) at Motherwell Community Healthcare Centre agrees that the facility often experiences very long waiting times.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the CHW says, “The issue of long queues is caused by an increase in population and is worsened by some people who prefer this facility while leaving their clinics where the situation is worse. The clinic is too small to serve the growing number of patients. The department needs to take into consideration that Motherwell is fast-growing,” says the CHW.

“The waiting time and patient flow can be managed if the department could strengthen its chronic disease management plans. This involves empowering individuals to take responsibility for managing their own conditions and increasing awareness of chronic diseases. There should be a strengthening of support systems and structures outside the health facility process to ensure a fully functional and responsive healthcare system.

“Health education and health promotion at the household level will reduce the need for clinic visits and lessen pressure on clinics. If the department could convert these vaccination campaigns into chronic disease campaigns, we will see fewer people visiting clinics.”

Multi-month dispensing

The report found that although “61{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of people living with HIV reported receiving two month ART refills, only 15{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} reported three month ART refills, which is low as the country aims to move towards longer multi-month dispensing”. Further, “21{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of people living with HIV still reported refills of one month — which is very problematic considering that South Africa’s national policy standard is for two months,” the report states. “It is also worrying during the period of COVID-19 when refills should be longer to ensure people living with HIV can make fewer trips to the clinic.”

The report notes that all the facilities monitored reported having internal pickup points available and 91{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} had external pickup points for people living with HIV.