Sunday, July 20, 2014

Cancer Answers: Complementary Medicine & Cancer


When: Tuesday August 5, 2014 from 6-8pm
Where: American Red Cross (Rear Building)
           786 Delaware Ave. Buffalo, NY 14209

Complementary Medicine: “What’s quackery, what’s not?” A look at some proven complementary therapies, not meant to replace conventional treatment, but to help cancer patients thrive. What is Reiki? Tia Chi? How does acupuncture help with pain management? What is a Holistic Approach to treating cancer? Learn from experts how these and other ‘complementary’ therapies can help cancer survivors cope with treatment, and long term side effects of cancer treatment. Cancer Answers is a free series of programs, sponsored by the WNY Ovarian Cancer Project, but relative to all cancer survivors. The sessions feature experts from our community talking about issues pertinent to the daily lives of cancer patients & caregivers. For this session experts include: Suzanne Hess, PhD. from Roswell Park, Patricia Mahone, RN & Barbara Simpson, RN from the Gate of Life Acupuncture & Trish Nafkey, LMT, Reiki Master from Core Concepts Wellness.   Each session will allot time for Questions & Answers, are free and open to the public.
In 2009, the Society for Integrative Oncology issued evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for health care providers to consider when incorporating complementary health approaches in the care of cancer patients. The guidelines point out that, when used in addition to conventional therapies, some of these approaches help to control symptoms and enhance patients’ well-being. The guidelines warn, however, that unproven methods should not be used in place of conventional treatment because delayed treatment of cancer reduces the likelihood of a remission or cure. Studies show those who had been diagnosed with cancer were more likely than others to have used complementary approaches for general wellness, immune enhancement, and pain management.

Surveys have also shown that many people with cancer do not tell their health care providers about their use of complementary health approaches. It is essential that cancer patients be comfortable in telling their oncologist about their use of herbal and other supplements, as these may interfere or make their chemotherapy less effective. No complementary health product or practice has been proven to cure cancer. However, some complementary approaches may help people manage cancer symptoms or treatment side effects and improve their quality of life.

For more information:

Kathleen Maxian, President
kmaxian@wnyovariancancerproject.org

716-946-6437

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