Cancer patients and their loved ones frequently use complementary therapies like acupuncture, yoga and Maori traditional healing methods (rongoa Maori) in addition to conventional cancer therapies; however, some alternative remedies remain unproven scientifically and could interfere with your cancer treatments.
Opting for unproven remedies over standard cancer therapy can greatly decrease your chance of survival, according to one study. Patients using alternative medicine were 2.5 times more likely to succumb than those using proven cancer therapies.
Complementary or Integrative Methods
Complementary therapies have long been used as part of cancer treatments or to ease side effects from conventional cancer therapies, including acupuncture, massage and meditation. When used together with conventional cancer therapies they treat the whole person – body, mind and spirit.
Conventional cancer treatments undergo rigorous research processes to ensure they are both safe and effective, such as surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy or immunotherapy. Many individuals also opt for complementary therapies alongside conventional cancer treatment in order to enhance quality of life while remaining optimistic for the future.
Certain complementary therapies, like practicing mindfulness and reducing stress, have been shown to strengthen immunity; however, there is insufficient evidence that suggests they will assist the body in fighting cancer itself.
Alternative cancer cures may be promoted as miracle treatments; however, their scientific efficacy remains uncertain and they could even cause harm when used instead of standard medical care. Examples include special diets and certain herbal remedies.
When considering complementary therapies, ensure they are administered under the supervision of an experienced practitioner who understands these methods and any possible interactions with cancer treatments. This way, any possible adverse interactions will be identified early on and adjusted as appropriate.
Most cancer patients who use complementary therapies with standard treatments do so on advice of their physicians. Sometimes an alternative therapy will help relieve symptoms or assist in relaxation or sleep improvement; be sure to inform your physician of any complementary therapies you’re using, as some can have serious side effects if taken incorrectly or in conjunction with standard treatment options.
Some individuals postpone standard cancer treatment in favor of alternative therapies, but this may decrease your chances of successful cancer treatment and increase its chance of returning. If you choose not to undergo traditional cancer therapy for any reason, it is essential that you discuss it with your physician, so they can keep an eye on how your health progresses and help determine any changes that would benefit from being made to your plan.
Alternative Therapies
Many cancer patients use complementary therapies – including massage, acupuncture or herbal remedies – to enhance their quality of life and manage side effects more comfortably. Some individuals also try alternative medicines in place of conventional medicine in an attempt to cure or prevent cancer recurrence – however these alternative medicines and treatments are unproven and could even prove harmful if taken instead of medical advice.
Alternative cancer therapies often claim they can cure cancer, yet no evidence supports this claim. Furthermore, there’s no indication they can prevent cancer from growing or spreading either – potentially making these costly therapies inaccessible under Medicare or Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS).
One study demonstrated that cancer patients using alternative methods were over 2.5 times more likely to succumb than those receiving conventional therapy, since alternative therapies do not treat cancer, can actually worsen symptoms and can delay or preclude standard therapies that could save their lives.
Alternative and complementary therapy can often be used interchangeably, yet each has a specific meaning. Complementary therapies can help supplement cancer treatments to make you more comfortable or boost your mood; alternative therapies may treat cancer directly but don’t make the patient any less sick.
Many complementary therapies rely on the concept that feeling good and managing stress are ways to boost immunity, and while evidence supports these activities having some advantages in fighting cancer. Further clinical trials need to take place before understanding their precise role.
No evidence exists to demonstrate that dietary changes can effectively treat or cure cancer. Some diets may even cause more damage by depriving your body of essential nutrients or leading to malnutrition.
Friends or family of those diagnosed with cancer often suggest trying alternative therapies as a means of providing assistance. Some of these include avoiding foods containing certain vitamins or minerals, taking high doses of herbs or supplements or engaging in practices such as acupuncture and meditation – many of which have not been scientifically evaluated and can even prove harmful.
Delaying or Refusing Standard Cancer Treatment
Refusing standard treatment of cancer reduces survival chances significantly. A 2020 study published in BMJ indicated that every month patients postponed or declined care, their chances of survival decreased by 13% – an important consideration when dealing with cancers that may prove fatal if left untreated early.
This study conducted an in-depth examination of 1247 cancer patients. The researchers identified factors contributing to treatment refusal or discontinuation, such as negative initial experiences, family difficulties, complementary and alternative medicine use, beliefs regarding disease progression and conventional medical treatments and health care mistrust. They also discovered that those diagnosed at cancer stages II-IV were more likely to forgoing or ceasing treatment altogether.
Patients have the freedom to select any treatment that they feel may help, yet it is essential that they understand that some therapies may be ineffective. Patients should also be wary of claims that alternative therapies can treat cancer as this has not been proven through research.
Patients using alternative therapies must also ensure they remain in communication with their doctors to understand any impact the alternative therapies are having on their condition and to make sure they do not miss out on vital information about cancer and its best treatments options.
Researchers interviewed 22 cancer patients who had refused or discontinued cancer treatments and used qualitative grounded theory methods to analyze the results. Interviews were transcribed and coded for themes before being subject to open, axial, and selective coding analysis that continued until theoretical saturation had been reached.
Though most individuals abide by their oncologists’ diagnostic and therapeutic advice, a minority will often refuse part or all of it due to beliefs that treatment will either be harmful or won’t work – these beliefs could stem from poor initial experiences with oncologists, uncaring attitudes from them, and death of someone close who suffered from their condition.
Talk to Your Doctor
Many cancer patients turn to alternative therapies as an aid in relieving symptoms or side effects associated with medical treatments, including chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Such therapies include acupuncture, meditation, visualisation, massage therapy and music therapy – generally safe to be used alongside conventional approaches such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy; however some therapies may interfere with or impede standard therapies from working effectively – so if in doubt about what therapy would best suit your situation it would be advisable to discuss it with your physician first.
Be mindful that none of these methods have any scientific backing as treatments to cure or even reduce tumor size, though certain therapies can provide relief from pain and discomfort caused by conventional cancer treatments like chemotherapy drugs; acupuncture may reduce nausea while decreasing pain associated with head and neck cancer treatments such as sore throat or mouth inflammation.
Additionally, it’s essential to find ways to cope with the fear and anxiety caused by cancer diagnosis. Seeking support from friends, family, religious leaders or professional counselors may all prove useful; exercise can also be an excellent way to boost mood while relieving stress if combined with relaxation techniques.
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to mitigate side effects from conventional treatments is acceptable, but you should discuss it with your physician first before beginning any such therapies. This will ensure that all other health services are coordinated appropriately and that treatments are working as efficiently as possible.
Your doctor will discuss both the risks and benefits of any alternative therapy you are considering, including any current state-of-knowledge about your type of cancer and its response to standard treatments, any evidence supporting or discrediting claims regarding efficacy of certain therapies, etc. They will always act in your best interests without pressuring you into making decisions quickly or forceful decisions on certain matters.