Many cancer patients turn to complementary medicine therapies like herbal supplements, yoga and acupuncture for assistance with side effects or emotional stress relief. But before initiating any alternative health approaches it is essential that their use be discussed with your healthcare provider first.
Research indicates that people who rely on alternative cancer treatments instead of conventional ones have a higher death rate – suggesting that unproven therapies might actually be harmful instead of helpful. This should be viewed with concern.
Alternative therapies
Alternative therapies can be an invaluable way of improving quality of life, managing side effects or supporting cancer patients during treatment. Examples include meditation, massage therapy, acupuncture and art or music therapy.
Alternative therapies can provide many people with greater control when used for stress relief or relaxation, yet before making your choice it is vitally important that you consult with a medical provider and find an experienced therapist who can guide your decision making process.
Some alternative treatments have been proven safe when used alongside standard cancer care and under the supervision of healthcare professionals, including acupuncture, herbal medicines, meditation, yoga and guided imagery. Some may even prove useful during surgery or other medical procedures – peppermint tea can provide nausea relief during surgeries or procedures.
Although some alternative therapies claim to cure diseases without conventional medication, others may interfere with how your body’s natural systems operate and cause permanent harm.
These approaches should not be undertaken lightly, as many alternative therapies remain unproven or haven’t been fully assessed for efficacy and harm. Some can interfere with cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation, potentially increasing your risks.
An alkaline diet may help create an alkaline environment for cancer cells to live in and reduce inflammation as well as cancer’s spread.
Another therapy involves drinking water with an extremely high pH level. The theory behind this therapy is that by altering acidity levels within your body environment, your immune system will be better equipped to attack cancer cells more effectively.
Some herbs and supplements may alter how cancer drugs work, so always consult your physician prior to taking them. Complementary and alternative therapies like aromatherapy and acupuncture tend to be safe when combined with chemotherapy or radiation treatments; just make sure that your therapist has proper credentials prior to beginning any such therapies.
Australian research identified fish oil, turmeric, coenzyme Q10, milk thistle extract, green tea extracts with ginger or lactobacillus bacteria cultures as being among the top complementary therapies most frequently recommended by cancer patients. All these treatments may cause adverse drug interactions when taken alongside traditional cancer treatments and could potentially decrease effectiveness of treatment plans.
Cancer
Cancer diagnosis can be devastating, making the journey through treatment all the more daunting. Many turn to alternative medicine such as herbal medications, massage, yoga and tai chi in order to manage symptoms and side effects effectively.
While it can be hard to know whether alternative treatments are successful, they may help relieve some symptoms associated with cancer treatment and help you feel more in control of your health and wellbeing.
If you are considering alternative treatments, it is essential that you speak to your physician first. They can guide your decision making in making the best decision for yourself and your family.
Research has demonstrated the benefits of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments on cancer patients’ quality of life. For instance, methods like acupuncture have proven successful at alleviating nausea caused by chemotherapy or radiation therapy treatments.
CAM therapies have grown increasingly prevalent over time for various reasons. One possible explanation may be patients looking for ways to combat their disease or manage its side effects more effectively.
One reason may be wanting more control of their health and how they live their life, while CAM can improve survival rates for certain forms of cancer.
Researchers have discovered that cancer patients who utilize alternative medicine are less likely to die than those who do not. The research focused on breast, prostate, lung and colorectal cancer patients as subjects in this study.
They compared 280 patients who chose alternative medicine with 560 who received conventional cancer treatments, and found that those taking alternative medications for cancer were about half as likely to die than those not using alternative treatments.
If you are considering complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatment for cancer, be sure to discuss it with your physician first. They can assess its safety as well as if any potential interactions might exist between it and standard cancer care treatments.
Complementary health approaches
Complementary health approaches (CHAs) are complementary forms of cancer treatment used alongside mainstream approaches (like surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy). Although not considered traditional medicines themselves, complementary health approaches may prove invaluable for people living with cancer.
Complementary therapies may help alleviate some of the side effects associated with conventional treatment, such as nausea and pain, while increasing quality of life and wellbeing. Examples include meditation, massage and acupuncture.
Mind body practices such as yoga and tai chi can provide significant relief from anxiety, depression and stress. By engaging in breathing exercises and physical movements that strengthen and balance you body, these practices help improve mood, energy levels, balance and strength – thus aiding overall wellbeing.
If you are considering using complementary methods, it is wise to consult your physician first as some treatments may interfere with conventional ones, or even prevent them from working effectively.
Overall, evidence supports complementary therapies’ safety and efficacy when combined with conventional cancer therapies. Furthermore, some of these treatments can even boost immunity, helping your body fight off disease more easily.
These methods, often drawn from Chinese, Indian and Tibetan cultures and used for centuries in medicine practice. Unfortunately, however, they haven’t been subjected to as much rigorous scientific scrutiny as clinical trials or other forms of research.
These practices may not have scientific backing; however, personal experiences and anecdotal reports support them. Unfortunately, much misleading or false information regarding complementary therapies exists online and is promoted as “cancer cures.”
Prior to beginning any complementary treatment method, it’s a wise idea to consult your physician in order to gain a complete understanding of its effects and interactions with any medications or supplements you are currently taking. Your doctor can refer you to a practitioner experienced in working with cancer patients as well as provide advice regarding which types of complementary therapy might work for you best.
Some complementary therapies can be harmful if not utilized safely, including herbal remedies and black salves. While they do not appear to effectively remove cancer, they may lead to other health complications and should only be used with great caution.
Alternative methods
Alternative medicines refer to treatments outside of conventional medical treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. Examples may include acupuncture or massage; herbal medications; vitamins and minerals; meditation; Tai chi; yoga etc.
Nontraditional therapies may help cancer patients improve their quality of life by managing side effects such as fatigue and pain or improving general wellbeing. These alternative approaches may be used alongside standard cancer treatments with professional guidance.
People diagnosed with cancer may feel overwhelmed by their diagnosis, so they search for solutions to ease symptoms like herbs, vitamins, minerals, meditation, Tai Che, Yoga or bee venom to provide some respite from suffering.
Though these nontraditional treatments may work, others can cause harmful or serious side effects and are rarely tested in rigorous clinical trials for effectiveness in treating disease.
Studies conducted recently revealed that those relying on alternative medicine to treat their cancer are 2.5 times more likely to die than patients using standard therapies, due to these alternatives not working as effectively or possibly having side effects that interfere with these therapies.
Alternative treatments claim to cure cancer by eliminating toxins from the body; however, one study demonstrated that this approach actually reduced survival among women with breast cancer who were already receiving chemotherapy treatment.
Immunotherapy, an emerging cancer therapy that uses medications to strengthen immunity against tumors, offers hope to those living with late-stage cancers, who would otherwise have no hope for survival.
Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, now often survives longer than expected thanks to combination immunotherapy treatments.
Photodynamic therapy uses light to activate a drug that kills cancer cells; this therapy is often employed locally to target certain areas. Laser therapy, using high-intensity pulses of light to destroy cancerous cells, may also be effective against some forms of tumors.