Oncology Final — Transcript

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1. 0:14What is this area?
2. 0:15It’s the area of the muscle, of the thigh
3. 0:17Because it’s a little sensitive.
4. 0:21It’s sensitive, yes. The knee and the thigh.
5. 0:28So if it’s sensitive while you exhale you can
6. 0:34really push the pain away, push out the discomfort.
7. 0:42Try to imagine you are pushing my finger
8. 0:49What is Integrative Oncology?
9. 0:52The place where complementary medicine, integrative medicine we call it,
10. 0:57When it takes place within the conventional oncology setting,
11. 1:02whether in the hospital or the community.
12. 1:04The place where complementary medicine meets evidence-based medicine
13. 1:09The scientific discourse about efficiency, about the safety,
14. 1:14About the training process of therapists.
15. 1:16Their accreditation, the place where the meeting with the patient takes place,
16. 1:21As part of the general clinical discussion,
17. 1:24In the place where meeting is possible thanks to the referral by the oncologist.
18. 1:30the oncology nurse,
19. 1:32the oncologic social worker, the surgeon or any other medical professional.
20. 1:41Three years ago when I was diagnosed, when I relapsed,
21. 1:45And throughout all these years I was treated by Doctor Leviov,
22. 1:49So I asked her, as I did when I first arrived,
23. 1:51as if I understood that I am starting a new process with her. I asked her:
24. 1:54“Doctor, 10 years ago it was in the adrenal. Is there something else now?
25. 1:59And she answered: “Yes. Now it's here”
26. 2:02And she told me: “No problem, I will gladly refer you”
27. 2:05So she referred me to you,
28. 2:07And then I met you…I met Orit.
29. 2:09I recommend integrative medicine to all my patients,
30. 2:14Because I think it can give more solutions.
31. 2:16It allows them to talk specifically about the side effects,
32. 2:20Of what they feel that their doctor is not always available for them.
33. 2:25And as much as we are able to listen, it’s not always enough.
34. 2:29And here integrative medicine really gives answers,
35. 2:33Firstly, through the patient's history. It gives them this place to say whatever bothers them,
36. 2:38Anything that’s not okay, anything that worries them, both mentally and physically.
37. 2:44For me it is another participant that sees and takes care of patients, one that works together with us.
38. 2:53In the "tree of possibilities", it adds another very important option that I can use.
39. 3:00Not everything we do is a hundred percent; not every treatment is successful,
40. 3:03But the mere fact that I can open another window through which I can send patients,
41. 3:09And not stand in front of them empty-handed,
42. 3:14Because these problems…the side effects, the anxiety,
43. 3:18They are problems that we as a system aren't always there to find answers to,
44. 3:23And there might not be any successful solutions.
45. 3:25In the space where we, the integrative doctors,
46. 3:29Serve not only the patient or the family member, caregiver,
47. 3:34But also the healthcare providers,
48. 3:36The oncologists, the nurses, the team members and the oncologic department staff.
49. 3:40In a place where we aspire to improve our patient’s quality of life,
50. 3:46While at the same time also strive to provide the best chemotherapy protocol,
51. 3:55In an optimal way.
52. 4:02What are the goals of this treatment?
53. 4:04The goals of Tsippy's treatment change every time.
54. 4:07She is currently receiving chemotherapy,
55. 4:09And every time she comes to us,
56. 4:11She comes with whatever symptoms bother her most.
57. 4:14In the past, it was diarrhea; then there was a period of severe burping,
58. 4:20There were periods with headache over her temples; increased knee pain.
59. 4:26Every time I would address whatever bothered her.
60. 4:30Basically, whatever her symptoms were.
61. 4:32My role is to improve her quality of life,
62. 4:35And that is what I try to do through acupuncture.
63. 4:37Every time I had a problem - acupuncture solved it.
64. 4:40Whether it was diarrhea, or if it was knee pain, headache in the area around the eyebrows, the forehead.
65. 4:58There were all kinds of things over time, and I just felt myself getting strengthened.
66. 5:10First of all, I feel a calmness… like, peace and quiet.
67. 5:15That can last for an hour, hour-and-a-half until I get home.
68. 5:20And later on.
69. 5:23So that feeling that you have totally relaxed.
70. 5:27It was, it clearly was,
71. 5:29I was even tired after the treatment until my energy returned.
72. 5:35I feel as if it’s not one body part,
73. 5:41I feel, I don’t know whether to call if a flow,
74. 5:43But I feel it is more complete,
75. 5:46It is more right…I love it!
76. 5:53I believe that even if you don’t actively treat the patient,
77. 5:57it is enough to sit and listen, give him a space to speak of what bothers him,
78. 6:02this will already be of help. Even more when you add an active treatment,
79. 6:08In my opinion, touch or guided imagery, or letting them think of other things.
80. 6:13First of all, I think that without the acupuncture I wouldn’t have made it through it.
81. 6:17Acupuncture simply builds me and fixes me.
82. 6:21Because I feel it, that it helps so much,
83. 6:26So I feel that it gives me immense confidence.
84. 6:31It really helps me…I am really very happy. It’s not compulsory,
85. 6:38And I am very happy that I turned to complementary medicine,
86. 6:40In general, I believe in it and I feel that the attitude of complementary medicine
87. 6:45Is not only physical but emotional as well.
88. 6:49I also really connected to the people.
89. 6:57I think it gives the feeling of having an anchor,
90. 7:01Really, if there is a problem which goes beyond oncology,
91. 7:03Then there is a team here that can support, assess and give answers,
92. 7:10To any issue that may or may not occur,
93. 7:15After all, it is clear that when we move forward towards chemotherapy,
94. 7:18The head is spinning…about weight, nausea, diarrhea…about body image,
95. 7:23whatever you want. And these issues,
96. 7:29are not addressed by alternative (medicine)…that won’t give you an answer. They elevate or worsen my view of myself.
97. 7:34But they will treat and give answer to any distress that might arise once you receive the treatment.
98. 7:41My leg was in real pain…and really, when Orit did the acupuncture last week,
99. 7:47When I first got up to leave, I told Orit: “Listen it’s helping, but…”
100. 7:52And then in the afternoon, all of a sudden, I got up and could walk my dog,
101. 7:56All of a sudden, I felt that it might not have been at that same moment
102. 8:00But it did help the day after…it rejuvenated me for of a day, day-and-a-half.
103. 8:07Because this period could have gone very differently.
104. 8:10With different clothes, with the loss of weight, with nausea, with diarrhea,
105. 8:15Everything that chemotherapy causes - I did not have.
106. 8:18I absolutely attribute that to the treatment.
107. 8:21Look - Shoshana had undergone a treatment that sent her to the emergency room
108. 8:26She was without treatments for a long period,
109. 8:29She really collapsed from the treatment. And then we left that treatment and tried another,
110. 8:33Very scared, anxious, not knowing what will be, how much will she suffer during this treatment.
111. 8:40And she started it together with you, and it really helped her.
112. 8:43She would come to her treatments pretty calm, relaxed… and her side effects,
113. 8:50The weakness, fatigue…and it helped her… also for her worries and anxieties, it helped her.
114. 8:59Because what actually happened when the treatment was administered, the "alternative" was also done,
115. 9:06pre-treatment…within a few minutes - meaning, I go to get treated after I am already strengthened,
116. 9:13They won’t do it after but before, and the difference is significant. At least here.
117. 9:25I am one person, I am an oncology patient, and the team that treats me is a team,
118. 9:30Not individuals. It’s not like - now I am being treated with complementary medicine, and later...
119. 9:36It is integrative, the same body, the same person.
120. 9:39You can’t expertly treat only one sick finger, for that matter.
121. 9:45The finger is connected to a hand… connected to the body… connected to a person.
122. 9:49Unfortunately, I am an oncology patient. I receive complementary treatments as well.
123. 9:56My studies have allowed me to look at the female patient in a more holistic way,
124. 10:02To understand the woman, not only her problems and symptoms,
125. 10:06To know her background, her special needs, her family,
126. 10:13It creates closer relationships with the patient and his caregiver.
127. 10:19It definitely connects on a more personal and intimate level,
128. 10:25Between the caregiver and the patient.
129. 10:32What do you feel?
130. 10:33This teamwork betweenthose who are doctors and those who are not?
131. 10:38Does it add or change anything?
132. 10:42Again, I think it makes them more professional, and more goal-oriented.
133. 10:48I think that if I were to go to a reflexologist like Abigail, privately,
134. 10:53Then fine, she would have treated me.
135. 10:55But when she is here with Orit, and with Orit’s guidance,
136. 10:59Who sometimes tells her words that I do not understand.
137. 11:03With her orientation and view towards my sickness
138. 11:08And yes - to accept me, to see me as a person with a personality,
139. 11:11I think the feeling is much better…nicer and safer.
140. 11:18This idea of teamwork is very special to me,
141. 11:23There is someone else, there is not only an opinion,
142. 11:28But a truly integrative effort.
143. 11:34And there is no ego, there is a real "together"…for someone.
144. 11:41That someone is the patient.
145. 11:42A very interesting process happens during the interaction between the three of us.
146. 11:54And the legs are breathing.
147. 11:58I look at Orit and at Tsippy.
148. 12:04And what’s important to me are the non-verbal messages.
149. 12:08Verbally - I am in a mood to speak…to say…to move into position, and all that
150. 12:15while at the same time I am looking at what Orit is doing right now,
151. 12:20How Tsippy reacts to it, and whether I need to react to it as well or not.
152. 12:26To me, it’s always easier… also with Tsippy. Because again, the burden is not all mine.
153. 12:35Olga took part of the therapeutic burden, and she can share it.
154. 12:42We work together…if she were to go somewhere else,
155. 12:44Then I wouldn’t have known what are they are doing, what they are working on,
156. 12:48No, there is no real connection. Here it is all integrative.
157. 12:53And here there is a feeling that it is part of the department,
158. 12:56And there is a connection…if a question comes up, then you can ask Dr. Leviov
159. 13:00my doctor who has treated me for many years.
160. 13:03The feeling is very safe, "at-home"... It’s not right to call it "home", but unfortunately it is.