Integrative Therapies for Cancer

Medical treatments, including chemotherapy and surgery, are one of the many ways we help you regain your sense of wellness. We want you to live a good quality of life during and after cancer treatment, which is one reason we offer integrative therapies. These treatments use non-traditional techniques, such as acupuncture and massage, to promote additional healing.

What Is Integrative Therapy?

Integrative therapies for cancer include treatments that work in combination, or “integrate” with standard medical treatments. Standard medical treatments for cancer include:

• Chemotherapy  
• Radiation therapy  
• Cancer surgery

Integrative therapies can help you feel better by:

• Easing anxiety and depression
• Improving your ability to get restful sleep
• Increasing your range of motion if you are experiencing muscle tightness
• Lessening pain
• Improving blood flow to scar tissue to prevent complications
• Relieving side effects of cancer and cancer treatment, which may include nausea, fatigue and hot flashes

About Integrative Therapies at MultiCare Regional Cancer Center

Integrative therapies do not replace standard cancer treatments. Instead, they help us better support you from a physical, emotional and spiritual perspective — all of which can have a positive impact on how you feel.

Insurance often covers the cost of integrative therapies. Contact your insurance company to learn more about your benefits. You can also ask our cancer social worker or one of our nurse navigators for assistance.

Integrative Therapies We Offer

Our providers have years of experience helping cancer patients get much-needed relief. We consider your unique needs and personal preferences before recommending the therapies that are right for you.

We are in regular contact with other members of your care team, including doctors and nurses, through tumor board meetings. You can feel confident that the therapies you receive will keep your treatment moving forward. Find out more about tumor boards.

Integrative therapies we offer include:

Acupuncture

Our licensed acupuncturist restores the flow of energy (called chi in Chinese medicine) with the help of fine needles. We gently insert the needles just below the skin at certain places in the body. You may feel many things during treatment, including a warm or tingling sensation, but most patients report that acupuncture is pain-free.

This service requires a provider referral and is available at MultiCare Regional Cancer Center – Gig Harbor. Call 253-530-8060 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Massage therapy and aromatherapy

Our massage therapists use the healing power of touch to help you feel better. Using their hands, massage therapists apply gentle pressure to specific areas of the body. Massage releases tension and increases blood flow. We occasionally offer massage services during outpatient chemotherapy treatments.

Massage therapists also offer aromatherapy, using pleasant smelling oils that you breathe in. The oils trigger a response that helps promote wellness.

These services are available to patients receiving radiation therapy and chemotherapy (infusion services) at:

• MultiCare Regional Cancer Center – Tacoma
• MultiCare Regional Cancer Center – Auburn
• MultiCare Regional Cancer Center – Gig Harbor
• MultiCare Regional Cancer Center – Puyallup

Special events

We help you safely resume physical activity with movement and mindfulness classes. Physical activity during cancer treatment helps you feel less tired, and you may be able to return to daily activities faster.

Our movement and mindfulness offerings include dance, yoga, tai chi and meditation. View our events calendar to learn more.

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Contact Us

For more information or to request an appointment, please call us at 253-403-6399 or complete our appointment request form.

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Most of our integrative therapies are available thanks to generous contributions through the MultiCare Foundations. Donate today to support these programs at support.multicare.org.

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