Integration vs. Separation
Conventional medical training rarely includes a comprehension of the non-conventional therapies. Although adequately preparing doctors for practice in the conventional medical system, the increasing use of non-conventional therapies is demanding physicians expand their knowledge to include these. However, a reluctance continues to ensue due to a number of factors including pressure on time, adequate educational resources and the scarcity of evidence that conventional training values. There is much empathy toward these reasons and advocacy for the physician to know it all and be able to do it all is unrealistic.
Although conventional medicine is essential in medical care, non-conventional therapies have the potential to add value. The converse is also true. Conventional medicine can add value to non-conventional medicine. Although it would be grand to pursue the idea of one over another in the treatment of cancer, the evidence and experience tends to support a collaborative approach to care over an individualistic one.
It would also be unreasonable for either practitioner, the conventional and the non-conventional, to attain or even be expected to attain the realm of knowledge the other possesses in their field of specialty. Which is where outsourcing medical and non-medical care is important and where collaboration is once again of the highest value.
Indeed, each has fed the other over the course of evolution into the modern disciplines and held no bias over the other in their conception or contribution. Humanity has drawn a separation between them, however, perhaps, they have been conspiring in our favour all along. The greatest benefit that will be derived for optimum patient care is the combination of conventional and non-conventional care. Using all available resources and modalities available for treatment provides the greatest chances of improving outcomes in cancer care.
