Dear Friend
For good reason, conventional cancer care—such as chemotherapy, radiation and surgery—is where most people start. Conventional cancer treatments offer the only proven cures for cancer. They may also extend and improve life when cures are not possible. We regard conventional care as the starting place in creating your integrativein cancer care, a patient-centered approach combining the best of conventional care, self care and evidence-informed complementary care in an integrated plan cancer care.
Dear Friend
We worry when someone with a cancer that is curable with conventional treatments decides to try complementaryin cancer care, complementary care involves the use of therapies intended to enhance or add to standard conventional treatments; examples include supplements, mind-body approaches such as yoga or psychosocial therapy, and acupuncture therapies alone. We know their cancer may progress and become incurable. We’ve seen that happen too many times.
Yet conventional therapies have limits. They can’t cure many cancers. They are often difficult to undergo.
The demands of delivering good conventional care in the brief time physicians have for each patient leave little space for advising you on integrative care. Some hospitals have integrative care centers. They may provide a starting place for what integrative care can be.
Regrettably, the American medical system is deeply influenced by for-profit market forces. Profit considerations may influence the therapies you are offered, what your insurance will pay for, and what it won’t pay for. You need to know that.
Still, modern medicine is an endlessly evolving medical miracle machine. Advances in almost every field of cancer care emerge all the time. You need to make this medical miracle machine work for you.
Don’t be rushed into treatment if you can help it. Ask how much time you can take to evaluate choices and reach a decision.
You should do what doctors do when they or a loved one has cancer. They almost always talk to more than one oncologist or surgeon. They do additional research and take a very careful look at their choices.
No decisions will be more fateful than your choices in conventional cancer therapies. Make them with care.
Wishing you well,
Michael
Michael Lerner
Michael Lerner is co-founder of Commonweal and co-founder of the Commonweal Cancer Help Program, Healing Circles, The New School at Commonweal, and CancerChoices. He has led more than 200 Commonweal Cancer Help Program retreats to date. His book Choices In Healing: Integrating the Best of Conventional and Complementary Approaches to Cancer was the first book on integrative cancer care to be well received by prominent medical journals as well as by the patient and integrative cancer care community.
Michael Lerner
Michael Lerner is co-founder of Commonweal and co-founder of the Commonweal Cancer Help Program, Healing Circles, The New School at Commonweal, and CancerChoices. He has led more than 200 Commonweal Cancer Help Program retreats to date. His book Choices In Healing: Integrating the Best of Conventional and Complementary Approaches to Cancer was the first book on integrative cancer care to be well received by prominent medical journals as well as by the patient and integrative cancer care community.
Conventional cancer care
Conventional cancer care is treatment that is widely accepted and used by most healthcare professionals. Examples of conventional cancer treatments include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery.1Conventional treatment. National Cancer Institute. Viewed December 3, 2021.
Conventional cancer care is central to an informed integrative approach to cancer. It is critical in controlling and, when possible, eradicating cancer. Complementaryin cancer care, complementary care involves the use of therapies intended to enhance or add to standard conventional treatments; examples include supplements, mind-body approaches such as yoga or psychosocial therapy, and acupuncture therapies and self-carelifestyle actions and behaviors that may impact cancer outcomes; examples include eating health-promoting foods, limiting alcohol, increasing physical activity, and managing stress practices can play a key role in reducing or managing the side effects of conventional treatment, allowing you to complete your treatment with a better quality of life. An integrative approach can also help you build your health during and after treatment.
Specialized professionals in conventional care
Within conventional medicine, many types of specialized professionals offer support beyond cancer treatment. Some of these professionals can receive specialized training and licensing related to cancer care. Many of these services are covered by medical insurance (check your policy).
- Medical doctors, including osteopathic physicians
- Nurses and physician assistants
- Palliative care professionals
- Social workers
- Chaplains
- Nutritionists
- Patient advocates ›
- Oncology navigators ›
- Physical therapists
- Psycho-oncologists
Professionals less likely to be covered by medical insurance:
- Fitness instructors
- Health and wellness coaches or counselors
Our scope
As making decisions about cancer treatment can be a complex undertaking, we developed a guide to help you.
This guide focuses mostly on your decisions related to conventional cancer treatment, as conventional treatment decisions are some of the most critical choices you will make.
We also offer guidance on specialized aspects of conventional care.
We do not offer comprehensive guidance on conventional care or the basic information you need to learn about your cancer. Many excellent resources are available, such as these:
Keep reading about choices in conventional care
Dr. You is a physician specializing in maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) with a specific interest in cancer in the context of pregnancy. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in health services research with a focus in health literacy and received a Master of Public Health.
Last update: November 28, 2022
Last full resource review: August 2021
CancerChoices provides information about integrative in cancer care, a patient-centered approach combining the best of conventional care, self care and evidence-informed complementary care in an integrated plan cancer care. We review complementaryin cancer care, complementary care involves the use of therapies intended to enhance or add to standard conventional treatments; examples include supplements, mind-body approaches such as yoga or psychosocial therapy, and acupuncture therapies and self-care lifestyle actions and behaviors that may impact cancer outcomes; examples include eating health-promoting foods, limiting alcohol, increasing physical activity, and managing stress practices to help patients and professionals explore and integrate the best combination of conventionalthe cancer care offered by conventionally trained physicians and most hospitals; examples are chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy and complementary therapies and practices for each person.
Our staff have no financial conflicts of interest to declare. We receive no funds from any manufacturers or retailers gaining financial profit by promoting or discouraging therapies mentioned on this site.
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Choices in treatment
References