KCRG-TV9 Early Morning News on May 8, 2008
BACKGROUND: Each year in the United States, about 1.3 million people are diagnosed with cancer. It is the second leading cause of death in the United States behind heart disease. Doctors are finding better ways to treat cancer to help people survive with it. A report by the National Cancer Institute published in November, 2007 shows cancer death rates decreased, on average, 2.1-percent a year between 2002 and 2004. But treating cancer is often tough on patients. Common treatments for cancer include surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy, all of which take a toll on patients.

INTEGRATIVE CARE: Many experts and patients are looking for additional treatments to fight cancer while, at the same time, making it easier to live with. Peter Tothy, M.D., an integrative medical oncologist from The Block Center for Integrative Cancer Treatment in Evanston, Illinois, says, "You bring the best of traditional and complementary medicine together to work side by side and not one has more importance than the other. Traditional agents such as chemotherapy, surgery and radiation are blended with the best evidence-based approach from nutrition, physical care and mental care."

TREATING THE WHOLE PERSON: Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are necessary parts of treatment at The Block Center, but just as important are therapies patients may not be offered elsewhere. Patients receive tailored diet plans that may include eliminating meat, dairy and sugar. They receive specific vitamin and supplement regimens to help fight their cancer. They have massage therapy to relieve stress; they participate actively in physical exercise and weight-training; there are yoga classes, nutrition classes and a mental health expert they meet with regularly to talk about their journeys. It is common to see patients getting a massage or taking part in a nutrition class while they're getting chemotherapy, which can be delivered through a pump that fits in a fanny pack. Dr. Tothy says the whole-body approach is having a dramatic impact on patients. He says, "People have a human capacity to do amazing things. If your expectation is for somebody to reach the median and to treat according to the median and just rely on one thing, that's what you're going to get. But if you say, 'look, you've got a journey. We're going to do everything we can to turn this around,' you can get some amazing, amazing results."

Many studies have supported the use of nutrition and individual alternative therapies in the fight against cancer. A few examples include a study that shows yoga promotes well-being in breast cancer survivors. Another shows diet has a big impact on colon cancer; and yet another study shows vitamin D is a powerful player when it comes to fighting cancer. Dr. Tothy says these types of therapies should and do enhance a person's ability to fight cancer. He says, "I think the training of doctors needs to be broadened so that we're able to see and not just rely on certain standard pharmaceutical-based trials but look at the whole person and treat people within that context."

THE TEAM APPROACH: A unique feature at The Block Center is that patients receive the traditional and alternative treatments in the same facility. All of the therapists -- from surgeons to massage therapists -- work closely together to tailor the best treatment approach to each individual patient.

Locally, there are also a number of options.

For instance, the Mercy Regional Cancer Center has 50+ years of experience in all areas of cancer treatment...and offers state-of-the-art technology to more than 900 cancer patients each year. 

Most notably here are two therapies unique to this area.... 

1.) Mercy is home to Iowa's first and only TomoTherapy image-guided radiation therapy system, a major breakthrough in treating and precisely targeting cancerous tumors.  Tomo Therapy selectively destroys cancerous tumors while avoiding surrounding tissue. 

2.)  High Dose Rate (HDR) radiation therapy--For patients with gynecological cancer, certain types of breast cancer, lung cancer and esophageal cancer, HDR is a computer-driven system that delivers higher concentrations of radiation in shorter periods of time, dramatically reducing treatment schedules from seven weeks to just one week.

Contact info:  Mercy Regional Cancer Center, 398-6265