NATIVE TRADITIONAL HEALING IN CANCER - CARE CARE KRISSTINA GOWIN, DO

NATIVE TRADITIONAL
HEALING IN CANCER
CARE CARE
    KRISSTINA GOWIN, DO
    ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE
    INTEGRATIVE ONCOLOGY AND HEMATOLOGY
    UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, TUCSON

OBJECTIVES

 TO APPRECIATE THE ROLE OF TRADITIONAL HEALING PRACTICES IN CANCER CARE
 TO EXPAND KNOWLEDGE OF TRADITIONAL HEALING PRACTICES AND CULTURE
 TO BE INTRODUCED TO TRADITIONAL SONG AND CEREMONY

INTRODUCTION

 SALISH CANCER CENTER: A NON-PROFIT INTEGRATIVE ENDEAVOR LEAD BY THE PUYALLUP TRIBE
  IN FIFE, WASHINGTON
 VISION: TO PROVIDE INTEGRATIVE CANCER CARE TO ALL PA TIENTS IN A UNIQUE TRADITIONAL
  CULTURE.

TRADITIONAL VALUES WITHIN THE CLINIC CULTURE

 WE ARE CONNETED TO EACHOTHER AND ALL THINGS, “ALL MY RELATIONS”
 HONOR FOR THE HEALING POWER OF CEREMONY
 RESPECT EACHOTHER AND THE ENVIRONMENT
 WE ARE ALL HEALERS AND PATIENTS, TEACHERS AND LEARNERS
 HEAL ON THE BASIS OF BODY, MIND, SPIRIT

WHAT IS TRADITIONAL HEALING?

 Native American traditional healing is identified by the National
   Institutes of Health/National Center for Complementary and Alternative
   Medicine as a whole medical system that encompasses a range of
   holistic treatments used by indigenous healers for a multitude of acute
   and chronic conditions or to promote health and wellbeing.

NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. CAM Basics. Publication 347.[February 27,
2010]. Available at: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE

 Twenty-one journal articles from 18 studies
 4 countries
 Traditional Medicine use ranged from 19% to 57.7%
 Most commonly used with conventional cancer treatments
 Multiple perceived spiritual, emotional, and cultural benefits

      Gall, Leske, Adams, et al. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 2018, Vol. 17 (3) 568-581.

Support Care Cancer. 2016 June ; 24(6): 2437–2444. doi:10.1007/s00520-015-3041-x.

AMERICAN INDIAN/ALASKA NATIVE CANCER CARE
SATISFACTION

 71 AI/AN CANCER SURVIVORS RESIDING IN OREGON AND WASHINGTON, 11 CAREGIVERS
 INTERVIEW BASED ANALYSIS
 THEMES:
1) NEED FOR INCREASED UNDERSTANDING AND EMPATHY
2) NEED FOR INCORPORATING CULTURE AND COMMUNITY INTO CARE
3) NEED TO HONOR AI/AN SPECIFIC NEEDS, SUCH AS RESPECT FOR INTEGRATION OF TRADITOINAL
  HEALING MODALITIES

CASE PRESENTATION
 Jen is a 45 yo Caucasian female with ER/PR negative, HER 2+ breast cancer presented with
  large fungating mass in left breast present for 2 years. PET scan revealed local involvement of
  sternum but no distant metastasis. She was fearful to receive chemotherapy and was treating
  herself with topical honey, essential oils, and medical QiQong. She presented in tears due to
  fear and left breast pain. She had not seen an oncologist since her original diagnosis.

 How would you approach this patient?

NATIVE TRADITIONAL HEALING
 INTRODUCTION:
MIGUEL FLORES, JR., LISAC, CSOTS, ADS
Chief Executive Officer, Holistic Wellness Counseling & Consultant Services
Chairman, Arizona Partnership for Native American Cancer Prevention
Chairman, Tohono O’odham Cancer Partnership

BALANCE AND HARMONY

  The individual:
    is a part of the dynamic whole
    must respect the whole as to not disrupt or destroy the various systems
    keep them in balance while they evolve and change

  Therefore health is a system that is interwoven among the
   numerous systems and as such is dependent upon larger systems
   such as the family, community, and the environment.
  Disease and illness are understood to be imbalances in the system.
  Treatments are then attempts to restore balance

RESPECT
  In order for healing (treatment) the individual must respect
   her/himself and her/his position within the larger whole.
  This respect is the foundation should direct and guide efforts to
   improve health by striving to restore balance
  Culture dictates the language used to
    Define issues
    Identify problems
    Frame problems
    Determine the manner in which solutions are sought
    Define and measure success

MEDICINE WHEEL OR DSM-5

COMMUNICATION WITH AIAN CLIENTS

 Slow down
 Words are Power
 Avoid negative wording
 Avoid foul language
 Avoid ‘NAMING CEREMONIES”
  YOU ARE A DIABETIC VS. YOU HAVE DIABETES
  YOU ARE AN ADDICT VS. YOU ARE ADDICTED TO

USE POSITIVE LANGUAGE

 You have survived some rough times
 You will feel so much better when you eat
 more like your ancestors and continue your
 workouts.
 Let’s work together to help you feel better.

LIOS EM CHIOKOE UT’TESIA
       THANK YOU

Miguel Flores, Jr., LISAC, CSOTS
       1-800-610-4721
        (520) 904-5431
    www.hwccsonline.com
miguel.flores@hwccsonline.com

CASE PRESENTATION REVISITED
 45 yo female with ER/PR negative, HER 2+ breast cancer presented with large fungating mass
  in left breast present for 2 years. PET scan revealed local involvement of sternum but no distant
  metastasis. She was fearful to receive chemotherapy and was treating herself with topical
  honey, essential oils, and medical QiQong. She presented in tears due to fear and left breast
  pain. She had not seen an oncologist since her original diagnosis.

 NOW…How would you approach this patient?

CASE PRESENTATION REVISITED
 Her first visit was spent in building rapport. She met with naturopathic oncology and medical
  oncology. Referred to acupuncture and traditional healing.
 Her second visit was spent educating, still building trust.
 Her third visit she met with traditional healing. Something shifted in Jen. She was more trustful,
  open, and ready to discuss chemotherapy. (begrudgingly)
 She started on Herceptin alone initially, and her pain disappeared, her breast mass shrunk by
  50%.
 She received weekly acupuncture, naturopathic oncology concurrent care, and continued
  QiQong.
 She is now working and living a full life.
 Jen stated, “Herbert (traditional healer) saved my life”.

CONCLUSIONS

 NATIVE TRADITIONAL HEALING MAY OFFER UNIQUE BENEFITS TO NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE
  CANCER PATIENTS
 NATIVE CLINIC CULTURE CAN BE CULTVATED IN CANCER CARE SETTINGS
 RESEARCH IS NEEDED ON HOW TO BEST IMPLEMENT TRADITIONAL HEALING PRACTICES INTO
  TRADITIONAL CANCER CARE

CLOSING CEREMONY

                       Thank you.
We have great gratitude for your attendance and attention.