If you’re a cancer patient in the U.S. and have been seeking treatments, chances are you have at least started researching alternative treatments. After all, traditional healthcare is not 100% effective, so what if there were other options?
When we talk about alternative treatments, there are different terms that we need to define and differentiate, because they might sound similar, but in practice they are not. “Alternative,” “complementary” and “integrative” medicine describe different approaches towards treating a health condition. The problem is some of this treatments might be very expensive or not found in the U.S., therefore some patients have started to look for them elsewhere.
For U.S. patients, Tijuana is particularly accessible because the Mexican city sits directly across the border from San Diego, making it one of the top locations for medical tourism in the world. Medical tourism occurs when a healthcare patient travels internationally for medical services such as consultations, procedures, hospitalization and medication. Patients without medical insurance are one segment of the medical-tourism market that is particularly relevant in border communities, because the sought treatment might be cheaper in a different country.
Tijuana has developed a broad healthcare and medical-tourism ecosystem, therefore it can be one of the first options you pick if you are in the market for some alternative cancer treatment.
Why Tijuana became a hub for alternative cancer treatment
Tijuana’s position along the U.S.-Mexico border is one of the most important factors behind its medical-tourism industry.
The city is directly connected to the San Diego metropolitan area, making it relatively accessible for American patients who want to receive care in Mexico while remaining close to the United States. In fact, Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism has identified border communities as an established segment of the country’s medical-tourism market, particularly for patients without insurance who travel to Mexico to receive medical services, looking for a better price.
Mexico has leaned into this niche. The country’s federal government created a Consejo Consultivo de Turismo Médico (Medical Tourism Advisory Council), with the objective of linking public, private and academic stakeholders around the matter. On the other hand, the Baja California and the city of Tijuana have their own medical tourism initiatives as well.
In recent years, Mexico’s Tourism Secretariat has highlighted the city as an important destination for health tourism, describing it as a destination with a growing network of health providers and international patients.
Of course, the other big factor is pricing. The way the healthcare system works in the U.S. can make some types of treatments prohibitively expensive, especially if they are not covered by insurance companies. Alternative, complementary and integrative treatments rarely are covered. U.S. patients that travel with dollars in hand naturally have a better exchange rate in some countries, like Mexico. In short, if you are looking for alternative cancer treatment to maintain your physical health, Mexico is a safe bet to maintain your financial health, too.
“Alternative,” “complementary” and “integrative” care: What do these terms actually mean?
“Alternative,” “integrative” and “complementary” care are terms often used interchangeably in advertising, but they have different meanings in medical terminology.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) defines complementary medicine as treatment used along with standard medical care. Alternative medicine, by contrast, refers to treatment used instead of standard medical care. Integrative medicine combines conventional medicine with complementary approaches that have demonstrated some high-quality evidence of safety and effectiveness.
For example, chemotherapy is considered conventional medical care. If a patient continues chemotherapy but also uses a non-mainstream approach to help manage treatment-related symptoms (such as acupuncture for nausea or pain, meditation to reduce stress, or certain nutritional approaches) those therapies would generally be considered complementary care. If the patient chooses to stop chemotherapy and instead relies on a non-mainstream therapy as the primary treatment for the cancer, that would be considered alternative care. Finally, integrative care combines conventional and complementary approaches in a coordinated and individual treatment plan. In this example, a patient could continue chemotherapy under the supervision of an oncologist while working with other qualified providers on symptom management, nutrition, physical activity, or other complementary approaches. The highlight is that the different treatments are coordinated to assist in the well-being of the patient.
What treatments do Tijuana cancer centers typically offer?
Tijuana has several hospital and medical centers that offer traditional, alternative, complementary and integrative healthcare services.
Some of the the complementary treatments include hyperthermia, intravenous therapies, vitamin and mineral supplementation, immunotherapy-related approaches, oxygen or ozone therapies, nutritional programs and other experimental or alternative modalities.
For example, ITC – Immunity Therapy Center has several integrative treatments including whole-body and localized hyperthermia, sonodynamic therapy, laser cancer therapy, insulin potentiation therapy, intravenous cancer therapies, oxygen therapies, regenerative cell treatments and other approaches. Of course, the center offers both alternative and integrative treatments through individualized programs, to help each patient pick what’s best for them..
One important recommendation is that patients should evaluate each treatment option separately rather than treating “alternative cancer therapy” as one medical category. You have to consider the differences among the different types of care, first and foremost. And if you choose integrative care, you need to understand that the plan is completely individual, so it will look different depending on your particular situation.
How are cancer-treatment facilities regulated in Mexico?
Mexico has a federal health-regulatory system overseen in part by COFEPRIS, the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks.
COFEPRIS states that health-service establishments must obtain a sanitary authorization before beginning operations. The agency also distinguishes between different types of sanitary licenses and notices depending on the services and activities performed by an establishment.
A “licencia sanitaria” (sanitary license) is an authorization that allows a public or private entity to conduct a health-related activity at an establishment when the applicable sanitary conditions have been met.
As such, a sanitary licenses addresses regulatory and sanitary requirements for the establishment or activity. However, it is not proof that every treatment offered at a facility has been clinically proven to cure cancer.
Who travels to Tijuana for cancer treatment, and why?
Patients who travel internationally for healthcare do not necessarily share the same circumstances. Some are uninsured or underinsured. Others may be seeking treatment options they believe are unavailable to them in the U.S. Some are interested in complementary approaches, while others are looking for programs that combine conventional and integrative therapies.
Mexico’s Tourism Secretariat has specifically identified uninsured patients traveling to border communities as one segment of the country’s medical-tourism market.
For patients coming from Southern U.S. (especially California), geography is another factor. Tijuana’s location immediately south of San Diego makes it possible to travel for medical care at a relatively-close destination.
What does a typical cancer treatment program in Tijuana looks like?
Treatment programs in Tijuana vary considerably between providers, diagnoses and individual patients. But just to give you an example, ITC – Immunity Therapy Center states that most of its treatment programs are completed in three weeks, although patients may require six weeks or longer depending on their disease stage and condition. A typical three-week outpatient program costs $18,995 USD and a three-week inpatient program for $29,995 USD. The outpatient program includes the treatments and diagnostic testing included in the patient’s plan, meals from Monday through Saturday, and transportation to and from the center, though accommodation is separate. On the other hand, the inpatient option additionally includes 24-hour nursing care, room and board, and a personalized treatment program.
We have to remember that cancer treatment in the United States can cost between $150,000 and $400,000, while treatment in Mexico may cost up to 70% less, depending on the type of care.
Before you decide: What should you verify and ask?
Anyone considering cancer treatment in Tijuana should gather enough information to make a comparison with the care they could receive at home. Some questions you need to ask before starting alternative or integrative treatments are:
Before traveling, consider asking:
- What exact diagnosis and stage is the treatment designed for?
- Is the proposed therapy intended to replace conventional cancer treatment or be used alongside it?
- What clinical evidence supports the specific treatment for this cancer?
- Who will be responsible for the patient’s medical care during the program?
- What are the physician’s qualifications and medical credentials?
- What sanitary authorization or license applies to the facility and the services being provided?
- What is included in the quoted price?
- What happens if complications occur?
- What follow-up care is available after returning to the United States?
- How will the treatment interact with chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy or prescription medications already being used?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is alternative cancer treatment in Mexico legal?
Cancer treatment in Mexico is subject to the country’s health regulations, including sanitary requirements administered through COFEPRIS. Whether a specific therapy can legally be offered depends on the nature of the treatment, facility and local regulations.
How much does cancer treatment in Tijuana typically cost?
Programs vary according to the provider, diagnosis, therapies and duration. For example, ITC – Immunity Therapy Center publishes a price of $18,995 USD for a typical three-week outpatient program and $29,995 USD for a three-week inpatient program.
Does U.S. insurance cover cancer treatment in Mexico?
Coverage depends on the insurance company and individual policy, though most major health insurance providers do not cover alternative treatments. Patients should contact their insurer before traveling and request written confirmation of what, if anything, is covered internationally.
How do I verify that a cancer treatment center is licensed?
Start by asking the facility for the name and details of its applicable sanitary authorization or license. COFEPRIS maintains information on health-service establishments and the different sanitary authorizations required for regulated activities.
