First published: March 13, 2023
A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming and stressful, and yet it’s a time when many patients want to learn about their diagnosis and gather information about all of their treatment options, including alternatives to chemo. Becoming well-informed and taking control of their cancer care can help many patients feel empowered during a challenging chapter in their lives.
At the Immunity Therapy Center, we offer a wide range of non-chemotherapy cancer treatments designed to support holistic health and wellness. Depending on the individual case, these therapies may serve as an alternative to chemotherapy.
If you want to understand which types of cancer therapies are available and how they work, keep reading. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at 14 of the best natural and holistic therapies available today and the reasons people explore them.
What Is Chemotherapy and Why Is It Invasive?
Chemotherapy is one of the most common treatments used to treat cancer. It works by targeting fast-growing cells in the body, including cancer cells. However, because it cannot fully distinguish between cancerous and healthy cells, it often damages blood-forming cells, digestive system tissue, hair follicles, and reproductive cells.
This systemic process makes chemotherapy highly effective but also highly invasive. Side effects can include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, hair loss, weight changes, and weakened immunity. In some cases, chemotherapy can also harm organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, or nervous system.
For many patients, these effects make chemo feel more difficult than the disease itself, motivating them to consider alternative therapies or an integrative medicine approach that reduces toxicity while still addressing cancer.
Understanding Alternative Treatment Programs
Before exploring the 14 top natural treatment options for cancer, it’s important to understand how these therapies fit into a patient’s overall treatment plan. A proper non-chemotherapy cancer treatment plan should always be individualized and designed with both medical history and lifestyle in mind.
A complete natural treatment regimen typically combines several targeted therapy types to achieve the best results. The therapies are chosen to work together and to closely match the patient’s unique health profile.
At ITC, your program may include therapies that target cancer directly, support the immune system, and promote quality of life. We strive for a balance of evidence-based natural medicine and integrative therapies, tailored to each patient’s unique condition.
Here are the different aspects of your case that the clinicians at the Immunity Therapy Center review when developing your alternative treatment program:
- The kind of cancer you have
- The cancer’s location
- The extent of the cancer’s spread
- Your current health condition
- Your complete medical history
- Contributing genetic factors (family history)
- Previous treatments you’ve received
- Lifestyle factors like activity level and diet
Why Do People Use Alternative Therapies?
There are many reasons why people explore alternatives to chemo or other conventional treatments like surgery and radiation. Common motivations include:
- Quality of Life: Many patients wish to reduce the harsh side effects caused by chemotherapy.
- Integrative Approach: Patients may want to combine standard treatments with complementary therapies for a more holistic plan.
- Personalized Care: Alternative therapies can be adjusted to a patient’s health history, lifestyle, and genetic profile.
- Hope Beyond Conventional Care: Some patients turn to alternative therapies after conventional treatments fail or when their oncologist tells them options are limited.
- Empowerment: Using therapies backed by ongoing research and clinical trials gives patients a greater sense of control over their treatment.
Individualized, Holistic Care
Alternative cancer treatment providers take a holistic view of a patient’s health. This means taking the time to get to know you as a person to better understand your experiences, preferences, and needs. We believe that mental, emotional, social, and even spiritual well-being are all elements that can impact a cancer patient’s health and wellness.
We have seen that patients who are able to maintain a positive attitude tend to experience better alternative medicine treatment outcomes. For this reason, we value the “care” element of cancer care. We always aim to know and support each patient as an individual. To us, you’re not just a medical chart. We encourage you to be actively involved in your care planning, ask for clarification when you don’t understand something, and express any concerns or needs at any time.
The best alternative treatment providers offer substantial individual attention and adjust treatment plans according to a patient’s evolving needs. At the Immunity Therapy Center, this means you will enjoy daily consultations with your treating physician. You’ll be monitored attentively to ensure your treatment program is working. We routinely adjust the care plan to ensure it remains responsive to your needs and maximally beneficial for your health.
14 Non-Chemo Natural Cancer Treatments
Now that you know the healthcare approach behind alternative cancer treatment, let’s dive into specific natural targeted therapy options.
Here are 14 non-chemo cancer treatments and how they work:
This vaccine activates anti-tumor behavior in certain cells within the immune system. Dendritic cell cancer vaccines are often combined with LAK Therapy (Leukocytes Activated by Interleukin) to achieve the most powerful results.
This gentle, non-invasive alternative treatment option takes advantage of the characteristics of ultrasound to fight cancer. Ultrasound can be precisely targeted and easily permeates soft tissues of the body.
Sono Dynamic therapy mixes low-power ultrasound with compounds called sonosensitizers to make the tissue more receptive to the ultrasound treatment. Molecular oxygen is also incorporated into this treatment. Sono Dynamic Therapy is thought to produce a specialized molecule, reactive oxygen species, that reacts with surrounding molecules to inhibit and kill cancer cells.
This therapy is also known as low-dose chemotherapy. Insulin Potentiation Therapy is an adjunct treatment added to certain other therapies to increase their impact. Cancerous cells are thought to contain more receptors for the hormone insulin than non-cancerous cells. IPT’s goal is to stimulate the cancer cells’ insulin receptors to help weaken the cells’ defenses against certain cancer drugs. Because this alternative therapy specifically targets cancer cells and leaves healthy cells unaffected, it is a gentle approach with minimal risk of side effects.
Immunotherapy aims to intervene in the body’s immune system to bolster its ability to fight off cancer. This natural treatment technique targets T cells, a special kind of immune system cell. The patient’s T cells are collected and treated to make them more attuned to the threat of cancer cells so that they fight them off when they encounter them within the patient’s body. The activated T cells are returned to the patient through an IV line. This treatment has long-acting anti-cancer effects and is mild on the body.
Healthy stem cells are taken from the patient’s body through a blood draw, then activated with the help of a specialized protein, Interleukin 2, involved in modulating immune cell behavior. Once activated, the stem cells are returned to the patient, where they are better prepared to battle cancer cells in the body.
There are a couple types of enzyme therapy used to help cancer patients. Systemic enzyme therapy employs high-dose enzymes to destroy cancer cells and boost immune system function by neutralizing harmful microorganisms. Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy, or PERT, is a specific type of enzyme treatment that can benefit pancreatic cancer patients. Oral enzyme supplements can enhance nutrition and immune system activity, enabling patients to safely receive other alternative therapies to target the cancer.
- Peptide Treatment Also referred to as Regenerative Cell Cancer Therapy, this injection treatment encourages tissue healing and aids the immune system in killing tumor cells. Peptides are short chains of amino acids that can influence immune system function in multiple ways, either stimulating tissue repair or activating defense mechanisms to slow or stop cancer growth.
- Leukocytes Activated by Interleukin (LAK) Therapy
This treatment is also referred to as Lymphokine Activated Killer Cell (LAK) therapy. LAK uses Interleukin-2, a substance generated by the immune system’s white blood cells that may play a role in boosting the natural defensive capacities of the immune system. LAK therapy is commonly used in combination with Dendritic Cell Therapy to achieve the most powerful outcomes for cancer patients.
- Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
This minimally invasive alternative cancer therapy is also used in arthritis pain treatment. It fuses electrical energy with heat to target pain signals and relieve discomfort. It also heats up targeted tissues to neutralize cancer cells. Radiofrequency ablation therapy starts with imaging to precisely gauge the tumor’s location. The technician inserts a thin needle into the unhealthy tissue in order to guide the administration of high-frequency radio waves to heat the area.
Most often, RFA therapy is given through the skin, but sometimes it is administered through laparoscopy if needed to properly target the tumor. In that case, a flexible tube is inserted into the body through a small abdominal incision to guide the radio waves.
Viral anti-cancer vaccines work similarly to traditional vaccination for infectious diseases. The cancer vaccine introduces a virus into tumor cells. This allows the immune system to better recognize and target the cancer cells as harmful. The immune system will then attack both the cancer cells with the virus inside them from the vaccine and future cancer cells that may return after the vaccine treatment is given. The vaccine helps train the immune system to become a more effective defender against cancer.
This alternative therapy option is a unique treatment for cancers in the lining of the abdominal cavity. Cancer that began in other locations can spread to impact this region of the body, including colorectal cancer, mesothelioma, and appendiceal cancer. These cancers can be challenging to treat because of the delicacy of nearby organs and the permeation of cancer throughout the tissues. In Intraperitoneal Perfusion Hyperthermia, the area with cancer is heated to a temperature high enough to kill cancer cells, while cancer-fighting agents are circulated in the tissues.
The body is naturally designed to remove toxic substances, but nutritional deficits and cancer alike can interfere with the optimal functioning of these systems. IV Chelation Therapy is a detox method in which substances that bind to certain toxic heavy metals and minerals in the body are infused through IV to the patient. The toxins are then eliminated from the body. IV Chelation Therapy can help support your immune system and your overall health, and help promote healing.
Also called amygdalin, B17 has long been used as an alternative cancer treatment method. This substance is found in fruit pits and seeds, including apples, plums, apricots, and cherries. It also occurs in bitter almonds. Purified, partially synthesized versions of amygdalin called laetrile have been incorporated into alternative cancer treatments as far back as the 1800s. Amygdalin turns into hydrogen cyanide within the body, and this substance is thought to destroy tumor cells while leaving healthy tissues unaffected. Laetrile B17 Therapy can be given by intramuscular injection or intravenously.
Laser therapy uses the precision-cutting power of laser beams to shrink or destroy tumor tissue. It is best suited to removing growths on the skin’s surface and within the linings of the organs rather than cancerous lesions inside deeper tissues. A specialized form of Laser Therapy called Laser-Induced Interstitial Thermotherapy, or LITT, works similarly to hyperthermia. It heats tumor tissue to a high enough temperature to damage it while leaving nearby normal cells alone.
These 14 chemotherapy treatment alternatives are just a sampling of the dozens of alternative therapy types offered at the Immunity Therapy Center. We invite you to explore our full range of natural treatment types. We hope that the explanations above help you to understand the alternative therapies available and how they work. Please keep in mind that each cancer patient requires a natural treatment program tailored to their unique needs.
Alternatives to Chemotherapy in Tijuana Mexico
At the Immunity Therapy Center, we build a customized treatment program for each of our patients to best target their particular health requirements, selecting from the extensive array of natural cancer therapy options available at our state-of-the-art clinic. These 14 non-chemo natural cancer treatments can serve as examples of the kinds of therapies offered at the leading alternative cancer treatment center in Mexico, so you have some idea of what to expect. Your individually-tailored alternative treatment program will be unique to you.
To discuss your alternative cancer care treatment in detail, please contact us today. We will be glad to assist you and look forward to welcoming you to the Immunity Therapy Center soon.
Written By: Dr. Adolfo Carrillo
Dr. Adolfo Carrillo is a Board Certified Medical Doctor from Universidad Autónoma de Baja California.
Dr. Carrillo has been collaborating with Dr. Bautista for over 5 years as a treating physician at the Immunity the Immunity Therapy Center. Dr. Carrillo is a charismatic Doctor whose knowledge and commitment to patient care and bringing healing to patients is a valuable asset to our center.
At Immunity Therapy Center, our goal is to provide objective, updated, and research-based information on all health-related topics. This article is based on scientific research and/or other scientific articles. All information has been fact-checked and reviewed by Dr. Carlos Bautista, a Board Certified Medical Doctor at Immunity Therapy Center. All information published on the site must undergo an extensive review process to ensure accuracy. This article contains trusted sources with all references hyperlinked for the reader's visibility.