Many cancer patients turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), such as acupuncture, yoga, exercise and herbal supplements for additional support during standard cancer therapy treatments. While some CAM options can be beneficial, others could potentially interact negatively or even be dangerous depending on which medications they’re being taken with.
CAM claims are often made based on one person’s personal experience and do not undergo third-party verification by researchers, leading to false hopes and unnecessary fears.
Reiki
Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is an energy healing technique involving touching the body to promote relaxation and promote healing. Reiki may help ease discomfort associated with cancer treatments while alleviating associated symptoms; research supports its efficacy for cancer patients; however more studies must be completed.
Reiki is generally safe for most individuals and does not interfere with medical treatments like chemotherapy or radiation. Reiki is considered complementary therapy; that means it is used alongside standard care. Before engaging in any complementary therapies – including Reiki – be sure to speak to your health care team first, as some practices could interfere with existing medical therapies or pose other risks.
Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of hands-on Reiki to relieve pain, anxiety and improve quality of life for people living with chronic illness. Furthermore, Reiki was found to lower resting heart rate and blood pressure while simultaneously increasing self-esteem of individuals suffering from long-term conditions like fibromyalgia or arthritis.
UH Connor Whole Health conducted a recent study to test the efficacy of their Reiki programme for outpatients receiving infusion treatments at two of their infusion centres. Participants completed Edmonton Symptom Assessment System measures for pain, fatigue, anxiety, nausea and well-being both before and after receiving 15-20-minute Reiki sessions during their infusion treatments; results demonstrated significant decreases in symptoms as well as improvement in patient satisfaction with care.
Although the results of this study are encouraging, it’s essential to remember that there is no scientific proof to back up claims that Reiki can prevent or treat cancer or any other disease. Only a handful of studies have examined reiki so far, and each had limitations that make drawing definitive conclusions difficult. We require additional research studies evaluating complementary therapies like Reiki.
Telling healthcare providers about any complementary therapies or side effects you are experiencing will ensure they have an accurate picture of your care. Many cancer treatment centers provide integrative cancer care; your physician could suggest complementary therapies that would be safe and suitable.
Massage
Massage involves having a trained professional stroke or knead the skin, muscles and tendons to try to relax them and alleviate pain or anxiety caused by cancer or treatment side effects. Massage also can be an invaluable way of connecting with others and feeling less isolated; some studies indicate it reduces nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatments.
Before beginning any complementary therapy, it is wise to speak to your physician first. They can give guidance as to which ones are safe and may help relieve specific symptoms. Many cancer patients feel anxious or overwhelmed; complementary therapies like hypnosis, mindfulness meditation or yoga may offer relief for such feelings.
Lymphatic drainage massage can be particularly helpful for cancer patients suffering from lymphedema. Lymphedema occurs when lymph nodes in an arm or leg become swollen after cancer treatment, and massage can help drain swelling while alleviating pain. Lymphatic drainage massage can be used to drain swelling away and relieve discomfort.
Research suggests that massage may provide relief to some of the more prevalent symptoms associated with cancer patients, including fatigue, muscle stiffness and depression. It’s thought this may be due to improved circulation and relaxation resulting from massage; additionally it could even prevent blood clots while decreasing swelling in arms and legs.
Avoid very deep massage or massaging areas receiving radiation treatment. Informing the therapist if you suffer from conditions which cause frequent bruises or bleeding is also recommended, while massage should never be performed on inflamed or infected areas.
Although massage and cancer have received mixed reactions, it can still provide valuable support during your cancer journey. When searching for a qualified therapist to massage you, make sure they understand any specific challenges associated with massaging someone who has cancer; accredited organizations also provide training for therapists working with people living with cancer.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy uses oils in various combinations to alleviate mood disorders and enhance overall well-being, whether through inhalation or application to the skin or bath water. Aromatherapy has been practiced worldwide for centuries – centuries! Although its safety hasn’t undergone as much scientific scrutiny as other complementary therapies have, aromatherapy should still be safe if there are no medical conditions which would preclude its use, or an allergic reaction occurs; essential oils alone should only be applied topically at appropriate amounts as too much application could be toxic and lead to oversaturation of skin surface cells which may result in toxic conditions, with disastrous consequences; aromatherapy should never be applied topically as too much could become toxic and cause toxic oversaturation of skin surface cells which could result in serious illness resulting in its use being toxic in terms of its potential therapeutic properties compared with its counterparts complementary therapies undergoing extensive scientific testing as other complementary modalities; aromatherapy has long been practiced around the globe without fail to benefit any adversely. It hasn’t undergone as much scientific scrutiny; nonetheless it has long been practiced throughout history worldwide since antiquity when first introduced with its predecessor therapies such as aromatherapy itself not undergone due to limited scientific testing although it might have undergone similar circumstances or caused an allergic reaction from applying too many essential oil being applied directly onto skin over time due to too many essential oil being applied at once! It should only ever used when applied directly onto skin because essential oil can become toxic over time due to being applied directly onto it’s benefits being provided that it might whereas its counterparts having undergone scientific testing due to other complementary therapies however but remains safe despite not under scientific scrutiny when applied via diffuser as other complementary modalities having done extensive scientific testing as other complementary undergoing trials being used before becoming popular due its lack thereof being tested due its safety when other complementary induced to any medical conditions, making medical conditions being unsafe due it’s effects causing it could. – not applied on large quantities directly over – let go as other complementary causing allergic reaction by itself due to being harmless enough at least being considered safe enough on its use so much later being studied more scientific tests than others such therapies in general terms of being safe when other forms.
Complimentary and alternative medicines do not have solid clinical evidence proving they treat cancer or prevent its recurrence; however, evidence shows some complementary therapies can enhance quality of life during and post cancer treatments, helping manage side effects such as fatigue and nausea better than traditional therapies alone.
Some individuals opt for an integrative approach, which involves using standard therapy in combination with complementary medicines to address stress, pain and discomfort, as well as enhance overall wellness. Contrary to alternative medicine which replaces conventional treatment altogether, integrative therapies may be used alongside standard therapies to provide stress reduction, help alleviate discomfort and promote wellbeing.
Though there is no definitive evidence, numerous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of integrative therapies in helping reduce stress levels and enhance overall mood and sense of well-being during and post cancer treatments. They can also assist patients in dealing with side effects associated with chemotherapy and radiation therapies.
Whenever considering complementary or alternative therapies, speak to your cancer care team first. They can advise you which therapies would best meet your needs based on rigorous research findings, while also providing information on whether certain therapies might interact with certain medicines such as herbal products and cannabis. It’s always advisable to inform them of any changes in your health or wellbeing as soon as they arise, particularly if taking prescription medication.
Exercise
Many cancer survivors turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), including yoga and exercise, to manage fatigue and other side effects associated with cancer treatment. Patients must find therapies that suit them individually as some CAM approaches have yet to be scientifically assessed and may prove ineffective or harmful; additionally, such practices could even interfere with standard cancer therapies.
Regular physical activity has been proven to improve many aspects of cancer-related outcomes, including fatigue, quality of life, muscle strength, cardiovascular health and body composition. Current oncology guidelines advocate exercise as part of treatment for cancer survivors during and after diagnosis/treatment; yet few people – healthy or those diagnosed – actually meet the minimum requirement of 2.5 hours weekly of moderate-intensity physical activity such as brisk walking.
Studies have suggested that incorporating complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) into cancer rehabilitation programs could provide an answer to this challenge by offering cancer survivors the opportunity to engage in structured exercises while receiving education materials on how to best integrate CIM into their lives. Unfortunately, most of these studies were observational, meaning their results should be taken with caution.
However, findings from one study indicate that exercise may lower cancer recurrence risks and improve survival for women who have breast cancer. This was a large, randomized control trial in which exercisers had 28% lower odds of either having their cancer return or dying than participants in health education groups.
Other observational studies have also indicated that cancer patients who maintain fitness programs may be less likely to be diagnosed with multiple forms of cancer and be more likely to survive their illness. It remains important for these findings to be replicated with more rigorous randomized controlled trials and verified.
Research continues into how best to incorporate complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies into cancer rehabilitation programs, but the National Cancer Institute provides information about some CAM therapies in its Physician Data Query (PDQ) database for both patients and health professionals, along with an overview of how CAM may influence overall wellness for cancer survivors.
