In Memoriam: John passed away in June of 2020. We honor his memory and are grateful he shared his story.
John Karg was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer, early in 2016. His cancer care team at Huntsman Cancer Institute treated the cancer with surgery, radiation, oral chemotherapy, and participation in clinical trials. He’s doing very well with the treatment—his interview for this article happened while he was waiting for the lift lines at Alta ski resort.
John says the integrative medicine services offered by the Linda B. and Robert B. Wiggins Wellness and Integrative Health Center also helped him be in shape to hit the slopes. “Their programs are awesome,” he says. “I’ve been taking full advantage.”
Standard cancer care focuses on treating the disease. Integrative medicine works together with standard treatments, with a focus on total wellbeing for the patient. The many forms of integrative medicine can help with cancer’s symptoms and side effects such as pain, nausea, peripheral neuropathy, fatigue, anxiety, and depression.
John has participated in the Wellness Center’s POWER program. The program checks each participant’s physical fitness level, creates an individual exercise program aligned with the patient’s needs and cancer treatment, and provides personal trainers. “Their workouts helped me regain my strength,” John says.
“Take advantage of what the Wellness Center offers.”
—John Karg
Other Wellness Center services have helped John with pain relief. He often gets acupuncture, massage, and osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) treatments. Acupuncture and massage are available to Huntsman Cancer Institute patients and their caregivers at affordable rates. OMM is provided by a specially trained medical doctor, so many insurance companies cover treatments with the usual copay as the only out-of-pocket expense.
“When I visit for acupuncture or OMM, I try to schedule a massage the same day,” John says. “I have a back problem besides having cancer, and combining the therapies seems to give me the most benefit.”
John has advice for other brain cancer patients at Huntsman Cancer Institute. “Take advantage of what the Wellness Center offers,” he says. “The fitness programs helped me regain self-esteem as well as strength during cancer treatment. Acupuncture and OMM can target specific aches and pains. And massage is a real treat!”