Integration of Ayurveda into oncology services at our Indian Institute of Head and Neck Oncology

One of the main objects of the Indore Cancer Foundation Charitable Trust is to make scientific treatment of cancer accessible to all, irrespective of their ability to pay. Unfortunately, quality medical care continues to be beyond the reach of a vast majority in our country.

The flagship project of the Foundation, the Indian Institute of Head and Neck Oncology, was started as a radiotherapy facility in 1995. Today, the institute also offers medical oncology and palliative care services.

Allopathy offers many modalities of treating cancer – surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy etc. However, there are limitations to multi-modality treatment of cancer because of the side effects associated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The side effects also impact the quality of life of these patients.

While clearly committed to scientific treatment of cancer, we would like to introduce Ayurveda in the supportive care of patients undergoing chemotherapy & radiotherapy as also those receiving palliative care. Ayurveda has options that could help alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy & radiotherapy and offer symptom relief to palliative care patients.

We, therefore, propose the setting up of an Ayurveda wing as an adjunct to the oncology services being provided at our institute. We have had preliminary discussions with TDU Bengaluru (the University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences & Technology) for initiating this facility under their technical guidance. TDU is associated with the Institute of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine healthcare centre, a research oriented, multi-specialty 100 bed integrative health care offering Ayurveda and Yoga treatments with modern diagnostic facilities.

Anyone who has experienced the effects of cancer treatment as a patient or has seen it as a care giver would understand that it requires stamina as well as resilience to undergo cancer treatment. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy particularly, can cause side effects like mucositis, dryness of mouth, weakness, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, diahorrea, constipation, pain, hair loss etc. It is in this area that we propose to focus the integration of Ayurveda, in a scientific manner, under the technical guidance of TDU Bengaluru with the benefit of improved quality of life for the patient. Our focus would be symptom relief without compromising on the scientific treatment of cancer at our center.

Subsequently, we would also be looking at the role of Ayurveda in cancer prevention.