Review of Under-Recognized Adjunctive Therapies for Cancer

Author: Mary E Money1,2, Carolyn M Matthews3,4, Jocelyn Tan-Shalaby5,6
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 665 W Baltimore Street S, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. <sup>2</sup> Meritus Medical Center, 11116 Medical Campus Rd., Hagerstown, MD 21742, USA. <sup>3</sup> Texas Oncology, PA and Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, 3410 Worth St., Suite 400, Dallas, TX 75246, USA. <sup>4</sup> Gynecologic Oncology, Baylor Sammons Cancer Center, 3410 Worth St., Suite 400, Dallas, TX 75246, USA. <sup>5</sup> Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3550 Terrace St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. <sup>6</sup> Department of Medicine, Veteran Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, 4100 Allequippa St., Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA.
Conference/Journal: Cancers (Basel)
Date published: 2022 Sep 29
Other: Volume ID: 14 , Issue ID: 19 , Pages: 4780 , Special Notes: doi: 10.3390/cancers14194780. , Word Count: 158


Patients and providers may not be aware that several adjunctive measures can significantly improve the quality of life, response to treatment, and possibly outcomes for cancer patients. This manuscript presents a review of practical under-recognized adjunctive therapies that are effective including exercise; stress-reduction techniques such as mindfulness, massage, yoga, Tai Chi, breathing exercises; importance of sleep quality; diet modifications such as calorie restriction at the time of chemotherapy and avoidance of high carbohydrate foods; supplements such as aspirin, green tea, turmeric, and melatonin; and repurposed prescription medications such as metformin and statins. Each recommendation should be tailored to the individual patient to assure no contraindications.

Keywords: Tai Chi; adjunctive cancer therapy; cancer; circadian rhythm effect on immunity; diet influence on cancer; exercise effect on cancer; fasting prior to chemotherapy; green tea; improved sleep effect on cancer; integrative oncology; ketogenic diet; melatonin; metformin; mindfulness; repurposed drugs for cancer treatment; statin therapy; stress reduction techniques; turmeric; yoga.

PMID: 36230703 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194780