PROVIDING INTEGRATIVE CARE IV

| Conference Home Page | Presenter Bios | CMBM Home Page |

Presenters: Timothy Birdsall, N.D.
Moderator: Roberto Mayo
Commmentator: Susan Sencer, M.D.
Session: Su4; June 12, 1999

I. Abstract

Timothy C. Birdsall, ND; Director of Naturopathic Medicine at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America - Midwestern Regional Medical Center, Zion, IL. Dr. Birdsall’s presentation was about Integrated Oncology Care. The main point stressed throughout Dr. Birdsall’s presentation was the importance of combining the practices of tradition and conventional cancer treatments with newly examined and alternative treatments. Cancer is widespread disease, has many facets and will affect at least 33% of the US population today. To optimize a patient’s chance of survival, the scope of their treatment and their care giving team must be widened and diversified.

II. The Cancer-Related Issue Addressed

This session addressed the importance of the ongoing work of the Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), the largest US organization to integrate conventional and complimentary cancer therapies. Too many clashes of conventional and alternative medicine occur. The CTCA’s goal is to combine and integrate the two often rival realms of cancer treatment to design individual treatments based in conventional as well alternative medicine to fully optimize the care given to cancer patients.

III. The Program

A. Philosophical Background

No cancer patient should have to face the rigors of their disease or their treatment without having the opportunity to take advantage of the benefits offered by integrated care. Conventional cancer care as commonly practiced in the U.S. has an unacceptably high rate of side effects relative to cure rate. Complementary medicine has a wide variety of treatments which have been shown to improve the effectiveness of treatment at the same time they reduce side effects. Patients benefit when all their care providers work together as an integrated team.

Care providers benefit from a team approach because we learn from each other and can complement our strengths and weaknesses. The future of oncology care lies in combining the newer, less toxic, more tumor-specific treatments with patient-specific, tumor-specific, and treatment-specific naturopathic therapies.

B. Details

Building a care-giving team:

Conventional Treatments

Cutting-Edge Technologies

Principles of Naturopathic Medicine

Goals of Naturopathic Co-treatment

Naturopathic Modalities

Designing an Integrated Program

Designing an Integrated Program

Administrative Logistics of an Integrated Program

Clinical Logistics of an Integrated Program

Naturopathic Treatment Goals for Surgical Patients

Naturopathic Support for Surgery

Common Side Effects of Chemotherapy

Potential Long-term Side Effects

Naturopathic Treatment Goals During Chemotherapy

Naturopathic Support During Chemotherapy

Homeopathic Remedies for Chemotherapy Side-effects

Radiation Therapy

Homeopathic Remedies for Radiation Side-effects

Immune Support

Immune Support

Natural Anti-tumor Agents

D. Research

To Support Benefits of Radiation

To Reduce Radiation Damage

Melatonin

IV. Limitations

In addition to specific medical difficulties that have arisen through systematic and scientific medical trials, Dr. Birdsall could not stress enough the difficulties involved when two clashing fields of medicine try to work together. Dr. Birdsall cited that nearly 80% of cancer patient have tried some sort of alternative medicine in conjunction with their traditional or conventional medical treatment. However only a small fraction of those patients have told their traditional clinician about their alternative pursuits. Instead of working independently of each other, alternative and conventional cancer clinicians need to integrate their treatments along with myriad other care-givers to provide the very best treatment for a patient.

The Antioxidant Controversy

"For many years it was assumed that radiation therapy and many chemotherapeutic drugs killed malignant cells directly by wreaking widespread havoc in their DNA. We now know that the treatments often harm DNA to a relatively minor extent. Never the less the affected cells perceive that the inflicted damage can not be easily repaired and they actively kill themselves." Sci Am 1996;275(3):62-70

"Many cancer cells lacking p53 do not undergo apoptosis in response to DNA damaging drugs or radiation and drugs that stimulate apoptotic pathways would be useful in this regard" Cell 1994;79(4):573-582

"antioxidants significantly enhance tumor growth inhibition by cytotoxic chemotherapy in vitro and in vivo." Nature Med 1997;3(11):1233-1241

"Patients receiving antioxidants were able to tolerate chemotherapy and radiation treatment well. Surviving patients started antioxidant treatment in general earlier than those who succumbed." Anticancer Res 1992;12(3):599-606

V. Comments:

Dr. Susan Sencer, MD, of the Children’s Hospital and Clinics (Minneapolis) agreed and stressed and reiterated the importance of preventative medicine and a healthy lifestyle. Not only is important to for an adult to abide by healthy life practices, but Dr. Sencer stressed the importance of reaching out to children and catching them before their relative health deteriorates.

VI. Resources:

Tim Birdsall, ND
Midwestern Regional Medical Center
2520 Elisha Avenue
Zion, IL 60099
847-872-6067
tim.birdsall@mrmc-ctca.com

| Conference Home Page | Presenter Bios | CMBM Home Page |