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Naturopathic Cancer Treatment: Associated with Increased Quality of Life



Author(s)

Shelby Walser and Kenneth Ecker

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DOI:10.17265/2332-7839/2018.01.006

 

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the effects of an individualized naturopathic treatment plan on the overall quality of life (QOL) of cancer patients as pertaining to fatigue, pain and overall mood. Twenty-two male (n = 10) and female (12) cancer patients ranging in age from 32 to 82 years-of-age volunteered from a cancer rehabilitation center in Kalispell, MT. Subjects were given the option to utilize a naturopathic treatment option via their physician. Each subject completed a FACT-G questionnaire at the beginning and the end of the study. This short survey asked the subjects a range of questions pertaining to subscales including personal well-being (PWB), social well-being (SWB), emotional well-being (EWB), functional well-being (FWB) and total score. A Dependent t-test was used to examine whether difference (s) existed within the cancer patients from pre to post survey scores (P < 0.05). Significant differences were found in PWB, SWB, EWB and total score (P < 0.05). In all categories, the QOL subscales favorably increased from the pre to post values. These findings demonstrate that naturopathic rehabilitation can be a positive alternative treatment for cancer patients undergoing therapy.

Naturopathic, cancer, quality of life.