Impact of Unani Palliative Care through modulation in Asbab- e- sita zaroriya (the six essential factors) among the patients of Cancer undergoing treatment (chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy)

Cancer is the second leading cause of death behind heart disease1. The total estimated burden of cancer for India in 2016 was 1277 DALYs per 100,000. After adjusting the MI ratio, the national cancer burden was 1908 DALYs AMI per 100,000 The top five leading causes of cancer DALYs in 2016 for males were lung (183.3 per 100,000), mouth (89.6 per 100,000), oesophagus (89.4 per 100,000), stomach (76.7 per 100,000) and liver cancers (74.9 per 100,000) excluding the other and unspecified sites. Prostate cancer contributed to 6.5 YLDs per 100,000 third to lung and mouth cancers. The most common causes of cancer DALYs among females were breast (232.7 per 100,000), cervix uteri (98.6 per 100,000), ovary (78.9 per 100,000), lung (74.1 per 100,000) and gall bladder (58.3 per 100,000) cancers2

Palliative care is an approach that improves the QoL of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial, and spiritual.

In Unani system of medicine, the effect of surroundings and environmental conditions on the human health is described in detail. The main concern of this system is to restore the equilibrium of the core body temperature known as vital heat and maintain the health status of human being with the help of Tabiat (Physis)

Keeping in view the prevalence of cancer and impact of palliative care in the improvement of QoL, the present study is designed to evaluate the efficacy of Palliative care through unani methods by modulation in Asbabe Sitta Zarooriya among the patients suffering from cancer.

Objectives:

1.     To assess the efficacy of palliative care through unani methods among the patients of cancer undergoing treatment (radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy)

2.     Impact of palliative care through unani methods on the QoL among the patients of cancer undergoing treatment (radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy)