Cancer and Chinese Medicine: How Does It Work?

There are few sentences that have the power to terrify us as much as hearing, “You have cancer.” Despite incredible leaps in modern medicine, there is still much that is unknown when the diagnosis is first given. People respond to medical treatment in a variety of ways, and it is important to remember that each individual case can present quite differently. 

One of the beautiful strengths of Chinese Medicine, and a major factor in why I made a career change from the nursing profession to become a Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, is that we look at each patient from a completely individual perspective. There are no “cookiecutter”
treatments in what we do. For example, during my time directing the Acupuncture and Integrative Oncology department at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York, I may have had ten patients in a row with nausea or fatigue from chemotherapy. Very often, I would have ten completely different acupuncture and Chinese Medicine plans of treatment. This is because the underlying factors that are the root cause of the way the body is handling chemotherapy or radiation treatment may be vastly different.

One of the questions that I get asked frequently is whether Chinese Medicine will cure cancer. I do not present to my patients that this is a cure. Rather, acupuncture and Chinese Medicine help
the body process the prescribed treatment, allowing the body to respond to treatment in the most favorable way. Because it also addresses the side effects quite well, patients find that the quality of life during and after treatment is remarkably better.

nd treatment years before, yet still have issues related to either the diagnosis or the treatment. It is not uncommon to experience negative symptoms such as pain, fatigue, neuropathy, poor digestion and other issues well past treatment has ended. The good news is, it is never too
late to resolve these issues and I see a great deal of progress made with patients who are years beyond treatment.

While many insurance plans do cover acupuncture, there are many that do not. While working at Mount Sinai, my program was grant funded. This was important because it allowed us to treat cancer patients at no charge.

Now that I am in private practice, I treat patients for a variety of illnesses and issues, including oncology. This specialty is one that is close to my heart, and each year I offer a program whereby a patient can be nominated for one month of treatment in my office at no cost.

If you or someone you know is battling a cancer diagnosis, or has undergone treatment and is still experiencing symptoms, feel free to nominate them. I work closely with a social worker who will select a patient who needs care to live a fuller, healthier life. Please submit a short essay on why you or a loved one would benefit to njnaturalfamilyhealth@gmail.com. The deadline for submission is October 1, 2017 and the patient who is selected will be contacted by October 15, 2017.

If you or someone you know would like more detailed information on how acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can assist those with a cancer diagnosis, feel free to contact my office.