The applied approach used by anthropologist allows for studies to be done on a specific and contextualized study group. It takes the population in a specific culture and studies how these different cultures deal with similar illness and diseases. Western society will treat a patient with renal cell carcinoma differently than an Eastern physician who is treating the same cancer. Although both hemispheres recognize the universally accepted chemotherapy and surgery, Eastern physicians often times try a more naturalistic approach. Using herbalist methods for nutritious tonics and medicines, eastern physicians give their patients such remedies in order to alleviate pain and prolong survival by strengthening the body's natural life forces in a attempt for the body to combat and arrest tumor progression. In the documentary "Forks over Knives", which I watched a couple years ago, I remember the documentary followed some cancer patients who adopted the vegan lifestyle and showed signs of tumor growth cessation and even regression. These methods may not be universally recognized and considered complimentary to aggressive treatment such as surgery or chemotherapy, but should still be considered nonetheless .
Spirituality is also a large part of this, and in many eastern cultures, the body is considered to be out of balance or there isn't enough flow into each Chakara. The beliefs of each culture must be considered and administered in order to better serve what it is the patient desires. The line between what the patient needs and what the patient wants must be distinguished by health care providers, and better established for those health care providers to determine and meet the patient on that line. Many people in western society are adopting a more eastern practice, since there is not concrete cure such as antibiotics for patients suffering from renal cell carcinoma, and whether it's desperation of positive outcomes that could be the result.
Some of the most important collaborations between anthropology and the epidemiology of cancer are themes that include culture change, stress, social stratification and other social and cultural variables.
Some of the most important collaborations between these disciplines concern themes of culture change and stress, social stratification, and the unpacking of other social and cultural variables. Anthropologist are giving cancer patients a whole new outlook on what treatment options that have that almost become the patients choice, where they can choose which treatment option can suit them best. These treatment options are considered cures, but they have therapeutic effects that could trigger a cascade of positive outcomes. Unfortunately, some treatments are schemes, and becasue there is little regulation or approval on some of these treatments, it is hard for the patient to trust what is effective and what is fraud. If the government were to have the FDA approve of some of the more alternative and not so common methods of treatment for renal cell carcinoma, patients would be better able to make educated decisions when seeking alternative or complimentary medicines.
Spirituality is also a large part of this, and in many eastern cultures, the body is considered to be out of balance or there isn't enough flow into each Chakara. The beliefs of each culture must be considered and administered in order to better serve what it is the patient desires. The line between what the patient needs and what the patient wants must be distinguished by health care providers, and better established for those health care providers to determine and meet the patient on that line. Many people in western society are adopting a more eastern practice, since there is not concrete cure such as antibiotics for patients suffering from renal cell carcinoma, and whether it's desperation of positive outcomes that could be the result.
Some of the most important collaborations between anthropology and the epidemiology of cancer are themes that include culture change, stress, social stratification and other social and cultural variables.
Some of the most important collaborations between these disciplines concern themes of culture change and stress, social stratification, and the unpacking of other social and cultural variables. Anthropologist are giving cancer patients a whole new outlook on what treatment options that have that almost become the patients choice, where they can choose which treatment option can suit them best. These treatment options are considered cures, but they have therapeutic effects that could trigger a cascade of positive outcomes. Unfortunately, some treatments are schemes, and becasue there is little regulation or approval on some of these treatments, it is hard for the patient to trust what is effective and what is fraud. If the government were to have the FDA approve of some of the more alternative and not so common methods of treatment for renal cell carcinoma, patients would be better able to make educated decisions when seeking alternative or complimentary medicines.
SOURCES:
Health.net. Chinese Medicine and Cancer. Updated 2012. http://www.healthy.net/Health/Article/Chinese_Medicine_and_Cancer/2006
JSTOR. Applying Anthroplogy to the Epidemiology of Cancer. Published in 1990. Vol 6.
http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/3033096?uid=3739728&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21102558110177
Image Alternative Medicine: http://www.medicalobserver.com.au/assets/images/clinical_review/486-324-11-05-12-pills.jpg
Image Ying Yang: http://justoncology.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/2yinyangill.jpg
Health.net. Chinese Medicine and Cancer. Updated 2012. http://www.healthy.net/Health/Article/Chinese_Medicine_and_Cancer/2006
JSTOR. Applying Anthroplogy to the Epidemiology of Cancer. Published in 1990. Vol 6.
http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/3033096?uid=3739728&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21102558110177
Image Alternative Medicine: http://www.medicalobserver.com.au/assets/images/clinical_review/486-324-11-05-12-pills.jpg
Image Ying Yang: http://justoncology.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/2yinyangill.jpg
