Complementary specialties
At IOB we understand cancer with a multidisciplinary and comprehensive vision for the physical and emotional well-being of the patient.
Psycho-oncology and oncological psychiatry
Just after a cancer diagnosis, it is normal that you feel a mix of anxiety and sadness.
The team of specialists will help you with recommendations and strategies, both for the patient as well as their family members and care-givers, throughout the process so that everyone is able to face and control the emotional pressure that is created by the illness.
Nutrition
The nutritional recommendations that we offer in our Nutrition Department are coordinated with the medical team and are based on scientific evidence, the type of cancer, the treatment received and the preferences of the patient.
It is important to provide nutritional support to oncological patients who are in treatment in order to find nutritious foods that they enjoy and that help them minimize the side effects related to the treatments.
Nutritional intervention must be considered as a support measure within the overall oncological strategy.
As part of the oncological treatment care, it contributes to a reduction in the rate of post-operatory infection rates, improved control of cancer related symptoms, a shorter duration of the hospital stays and a greater tolerance of the treatment. As part of palliative care, nutritional intervention is based on the control of symptoms in order to improve the quality of life.
Acupuncture
The World Health Organization (HMO) recommends acupuncture as an alternative therapy, principally to alleviate both acute and chronic physical pain.
Furthermore, as no medications must be swallowed, it has also been consolidated among the options for treatment of psycho-emotional symptoms.
Hair Loss Prevention Unit
Losing one’s hair is one of the most unsettling and disturbing chemotherapy side effects for the patient. Cooling the scalp using a cap connected to a machine has been shown, in many cases, to be an effective way to prevent or reduce the loss of hair during chemotherapy treatment.
Cooling the scalp provokes a restriction in the blood vessels of the skin, which leads to reduced blood flow reaching the hair follicles during the period of maximum concentration of the chemotherapy drug in the blood plasma.
Esthetics
During oncological treatment, skin problems may occur, such as irritation, reddening, itching, flaking, dryness and acne. Furthermore, the patient’s nails may become brittle and they may lose hair due to the side effects of chemotherapy.
The Esthetics Department can advise you on how to minimize these effects and provides simple recommendations in order to achieve a healthier appearance and so that patients feel better about themselves.
