Cancer patients frequently turn to alternative therapy options for relief, including touch therapies like acupuncture and talking therapies as well as diet approaches.
These therapies have yet to be scientifically verified and should only be used if conventional treatments fail. They have often been promoted as cancer cures but have failed to make an impactful difference to survival rates.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) refers to therapies or practices outside of conventional medicine, including herbal therapies, meditation and acupuncture. Although often promoted as cancer cures, none have been proven effective; furthermore they could interfere with your cancer treatments and cause side effects; therefore it’s wise to speak to your physician before initiating any CAM therapies.
Although complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely utilized by cancer patients, few studies have explored its prevalence or patterns of use among this population. This survey is the first European survey dedicated to studying cancer patient’s use and patterns of consumption of CAM treatments.
Seventy-seven percent of surveyed patients reported using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Most commonly consumed forms included herbal remedies and medicine; massage, tai chi, chiropractic manipulation, meditation and yoga also fell within this category. Reasons given for using CAM included improving general health, fighting off disease more effectively and relieving stress; although most who used CAM didn’t inform their oncologists of their plans to do so due to fear that interference may interfere with anticancer drug regimens or cost considerations of using such approaches; amongst many reasons they didn’t inform their oncologist of plans since fears could interfere with anticancer treatment courses, concerns that their oncologist may disapproval or concerns over cost incurred from doing so.
Survey respondents showed that most did not pay for complementary and alternative medicine therapies and remedies; however, those who did spend an average of EUR123 monthly indicated it was for acupuncture treatments alone. When those who chose to pay indicated it was for perceived benefits such as improving physical and emotional well-being or decreasing chemotherapy side-effects.
The study discovered that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use increased steadily over time; however, most changes were not statistically significant. People who had used CAM prior to beginning cancer treatment and were now using it significantly reduced their vitamin intake: most commonly multivitamins, vitamin D and calcium consumption decreased. Other changes that didn’t reach statistical significance included prayer, tai chi, yoga meditation or fish oil use.
Alternative Therapies to Chemotherapy
Many cancer patients opt for alternative therapies in the early stages after diagnosis. Some use them to deal with chemotherapy side effects like fatigue or nausea; others use them as a way of feeling more in control of their treatment plan. Unfortunately, in some instances alternative therapies may even be dangerous and should never replace proven medical therapies.
Alternative therapies do not hold scientific proof to prevent or cure cancer, although some can have harmful side effects and interfere with medication prescribed for cancer patients. They might also provide false hope by giving people false confidence.
As with any alternative therapy involving ingestion or injection into the body (e.g. herbs, vitamins, oils, special diets or enemas), it is imperative that any alternative therapies administered (e.g. herbs, vitamins, oils, special diets or enemas) should be done so with your oncologist’s knowledge. This will avoid giving something which might lessen or even eliminate chemotherapy’s effectiveness or add additional toxicity – for instance some herbal products can replace methotrexate’s effectiveness, thus allowing cancer cells to flourish; your oncologist knows much more about any possible conflicts between therapies than parents, herbalists or health food store salespersons do!
Recent research from Yale University indicates that patients utilizing alternative therapies had significantly lower survival rates compared to conventional therapy options, likely because alternative therapy patients typically rely on drugs that don’t target cancer cells or work with immune systems, making it harder for the child’s body to fight the illness effectively.
People often assume alternative treatments recommended by friends or family are safe because they’re natural and readily available over the counter, but rarely is there any scientific research backing these claims, some can actually be harmful – for instance taking high doses of vitamins can have adverse reactions and eliminating certain foods can deprive your child from important nutrition.
Talking Therapies
Talking therapies can be used as either a standalone treatment or in combination with other forms of cancer treatment, with their main goal being helping you identify any unhelpful patterns in your thinking, emotions and behavior and helping you change them. Talking therapies may provide invaluable support as you adjust to changes caused by cancer and its treatment while simultaneously improving quality of life.
There are various forms of talking therapy, though your options may be limited depending on where and how you access it. If you’re curious about this form of therapy, reach out to your local hospital, GP surgery or Maggie’s Centre to ask for recommendations; they can also offer support and assist in finding a therapist who’s suitable. When selecting one it’s important that they’re adept in dealing with people living with cancer as well as having adequate training and experience – they should ideally belong to a reputable professional organization which adheres to its codes of practice.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness and Psychodynamic Counseling may all be utilized for managing concerns. A therapist will often tailor their approach specifically to meet the individual needs of each client in a safe and supportive environment, and may suggest practical activities between sessions to assist you in dealing with concerns more efficiently.
Some therapists specialize in relaxation techniques that can be particularly effective at managing anxiety and stress, including yoga, tai chi and qi gong (which combine movement with breathing exercises to build strength, flexibility and decrease pain and anxiety), while others can use touch to soothe and relax their clients via massage and reiki treatments.
Notifying your medical team if you plan to undergo complementary or alternative therapies is critical, as these could interact with cancer medications and have an effect on mood. You should also inform them if taking supplements or herbal remedies as this could have an immediate impact.
Before committing to therapy sessions, it is wise to examine any associated fees as these can often be expensive during difficult financial times. You might be eligible for help covering these expenses through either your GP or employer-provided Employee Assistance Programmes.
Lifestyle Approaches
Alternative therapies may help supplement conventional cancer treatments in improving quality and comfort of life by relieving pain, fatigue and nausea. Such alternative therapies include relaxation techniques, talking therapies, acupuncture and music therapy; however it should be remembered that not all such claims have been scientifically evaluated; for this reason patients should always speak to their healthcare provider prior to embarking upon any such options.
Alternative treatments could hinder chemotherapy’s efficacy or worsen side effects; before considering these treatment options, please speak with either your oncologist or GP first.
CAM therapies draw upon ancient practices to help manage stress and emotional distress associated with cancer, boost your immunity, promote healing through diet and exercise and stimulate pain relief, nausea and vomiting relief. Acupuncture can also be an effective form of alternative treatment. Furthermore, art therapy and hypnotherapy offer ways of providing psychological care.
Integrative oncology services are increasingly offered by health care providers, with more professionals trained to use complementary medicine alongside conventional oncology practices.
Many individuals diagnosed with cancer are turning to alternative, holistic remedies in search of relief. This trend is especially prominent among women diagnosed with breast cancer who seek solutions that address all their needs comprehensively. At the Cancer Center for Healing, this movement has gained momentum with our wide array of alternative treatment options specifically tailored for breast cancer survivors.
Although Western medicine, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation as the primary forms of cancer treatment for many types, is widely accepted, there remains much to learn about how different factors such as past medical history or lifestyle choices impact someone’s response to cancer treatments. To better understand these effects, the National Cancer Institute’s CAM Survivorship Research Network’s Exceptional Responders Initiative is conducting research into whether using complementary medicine (CM), beliefs in it, communication between conventional healthcare practitioners, may lead to exceptional results in cancer patients.
