Key Components of the Holistic Approach: A Multifaceted Strategy in the Fight Against Cancer

Holistic cancer treatment is offered through the collaboration of specialists from many different disciplines and is personalized according to the needs of our patients. The key components of this approach are:

1. Medical Treatment: The Foundation of the Fight Against Cancer

The medical treatment of cancer includes the basic methods aimed at destroying cancer cells or controlling their growth. These methods include:

• Surgical Intervention: The surgical removal of cancerous tissue. While it ensures complete removal of the tumor in early stages, it can also be used to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life in advanced stages.
• Chemotherapy: Drug treatment that kills cancer cells or stops them from growing. It often targets rapidly dividing cells and can be applied with different drug combinations.
• Radiation Therapy: The destruction of cancer cells with high-energy radiation beams. Targeted radiation therapy techniques aim to minimize damage to surrounding healthy tissues.
• Targeted Drugs: Drugs that target specific molecules or signaling pathways in cancer cells. These treatments often lead to more effective results with fewer side effects.
• Immunotherapy: Treatments that activate the immune system to fight cancer. It aims to empower the body’s own defense mechanisms to recognize and attack cancer cells.

These treatments are determined according to the type of cancer, its stage, and the patient’s overall health status. The holistic approach integrates medical treatments with other supportive therapies to ensure the most effective treatment.

2. Nutritional Support: An Indispensable Aid to Treatment and the Body’s Needs

Getting the energy and nutrients the body needs during cancer treatment both improves response to treatment and helps reduce side effects. Inadequate nutrition can reduce tolerance to treatment and negatively affect the healing process.

• Dietitians: They evaluate the nutritional needs of our patients and develop appropriate nutritional plans for the treatment process. These plans are specifically tailored to the patient’s cancer type, treatment (e.g., to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy), and individual needs (e.g., additional health problems such as diabetes or heart disease).

3. Psychosocial Support: Protecting and Strengthening Emotional and Mental Health

Cancer diagnosis and treatment can cause various emotional and mental difficulties in our patients. To cope with these difficulties and support the psychological well-being of our patients:

• Psychologists and Therapists: They offer emotional support, counseling, and therapy services to our patients. This can be in the form of individual therapy, couple therapy, or family therapy.
• Support Groups: Gathering with other individuals fighting cancer, sharing experiences, and receiving support is an important resource.
• Stress Management and Coping Skills: Various techniques (e.g., meditation, yoga, breathing exercises) are taught to our patients to help them cope with stress, reduce anxiety, develop positive thinking, and manage difficult emotional processes.

4. Physical Activity and Rehabilitation: Regaining and Maintaining Strength and Endurance

Physical activity and rehabilitation are important parts of cancer treatment. Cancer treatment can negatively affect the patient’s physical functions and quality of life. Physical activity and rehabilitation programs aim to minimize these effects and help the patient return to the best possible condition.

• Physiotherapists and Exercise Specialists: They help our patients increase their strength and endurance, maintain mobility, manage treatment-related side effects (e.g., fatigue, pain, lymphedema), and improve their quality of life.
• They determine appropriate exercise programs for our patients and support their implementation. These programs are tailored to the patient’s cancer type, treatment, and individual needs.

5. Complementary and Alternative Therapies: Respect for Individual Preferences and Integration

Some of our patients may prefer complementary and alternative therapies in addition to traditional medical treatments.

• Holistic Approach: It evaluates the complementary therapies preferred by our patients (e.g., acupuncture, massage therapy, herbal treatments) and tries to integrate appropriate ones with medical treatments. This integration is important to ensure patient safety and treatment effectiveness.

Benefits of the Holistic Approach: Comprehensive Support, Better Outcomes

Holistic cancer treatment provides many benefits to our patients:

• Better Treatment Outcomes: The effectiveness of medical treatments can be increased, treatment adherence can be improved, and treatment-related complications can be reduced.
• Reduced Side Effects: Supportive treatments can help reduce and manage the side effects of treatment.
• Improved Quality of Life: Patients’ quality of life is improved and they are enabled to live healthier lives by supporting physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.
• Strong Support System: Our patients feel stronger, the feeling of loneliness decreases, and morale is boosted by receiving support from specialists from many different disciplines.

Remember, you are not alone in this challenging journey. The holistic approach aims to provide you with the best possible support and help you regain your health.