Cancer patients frequently turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices as an aid in managing their condition and treatment regimen, but not all CAM practices have been shown safe or effective.
Before embarking on any complementary and alternative medicine therapy, always consult your GP. They can recommend practitioners with experience treating people suffering from your health condition that will work effectively alongside the traditional healthcare team.
Meditation
Meditation is an ancient practice designed to relax and reassure the mind, whether done solo or with others. Meditation involves focused breathing or visual imagery meditation and has been proven to reduce stress while improving mood, sleep patterns and overall well-being. Studies have also indicated it changes brain structure while altering subjective perception and feelings.
Multiple research studies have confirmed that people who practice meditation regularly experience physical changes to the structure of their brain, including changes to the connections between neurons in the brain. When these connections strengthen, thinking and concentration become easier – which explains why so many find such practices beneficial.
There are various forms of meditation, but most focus on the mind and breath. While some forms may be religious in nature, others do not require religious affiliation in order to practice meditation. Mantra or affirmations meditations may help focus the mind on one thing while mindfulness aims at being present in each moment – great ways for controlling thoughts and emotions that can benefit those suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or anxiety disorders.
Complementary and alternative medicine encompasses two broad categories, natural products like herbs or vitamins; and mind-body practices. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), mind-body practices fall under this umbrella term; for example traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, ayurveda medicine classical homeopathy as well as indigenous healing systems all fall into this category. NCCAM also provides information on specific CAM therapies including how they’re tested as well as potential adverse side effects they might have on health benefits for various individuals. For each therapy there’s links within NCCAM for additional details including how they’re tested or what potential adverse side effects they could have on health.
Hypnosis
Hypnosis or hypnotherapy is a state of extreme relaxation and concentration created by using verbal cues, repetition and imagery from a trained professional hypnotist. Hypnosis belongs to a class of therapies called complementary therapy which may also include medical or psychological treatments to manage symptoms like pain, anxiety and depression.
Clinical hypnosis is used for many conditions, from pain control (including pre-operation stress relief before medical procedures such as biopsies or biopsies) and hot flashes associated with menopause to sleep problems and changes in behavior such as bed-wetting or smoking cessation. Although how hypnosis works remains unknown, its thought that people become more open to suggestions from therapists when in a relaxed state; alternatively you can self-hypnotise for anxiety relief or other purposes.
Though some practitioners claim hypnosis can extend life, there is no scientific proof for such claims. If you decide to explore hypnosis as an option for yourself, make sure your practitioner has undergone training and registered with an organization such as the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis.
Before visiting any complementary therapy clinic or therapist, speak to your GP first. They can assist in finding an experienced practitioner and advise if the technique suits you personally, while providing resources such as books or sources of information about it. Some complementary therapies have undergone rigorous testing but others should be approached with caution due to untested claims; additionally some therapies could interact with cancer treatment and even prove harmful; therefore you must inform your GP of any therapies you’re considering taking up.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves using sterile needles to stimulate certain points on the body. Needles are inserted under the skin to ease pain from conditions like back or neck pain, headaches and fibromyalgia. Studies have also demonstrated that acupuncture reduces certain chemicals that contribute to inflammation and pain within our bodies. Acupuncture can even help with alleviating side effects from cancer treatments like nausea, vomiting and fatigue.
Contrary to conventional medical treatments, which are administered by physicians and approved by experts, complementary and alternative medicine practices often haven’t undergone extensive clinical trials. Some therapies may interfere with standard therapies or pose potential health risks – for instance acupuncture can be dangerous for pacemakers and those with weak immune systems; be sure to speak to your physician first if considering new therapies like this one.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCIH) categorizes complementary and alternative medicine into two subsets. Natural products, including herbs, vitamins, minerals and probiotics which may be taken in supplement form; and mind-body therapies including acupuncture, massage therapy, meditation yoga biofeedback chiropractic osteopath manipulation music therapy tai chi healing touch and hypnosis fall under this umbrella term. Their website features fact sheets publications and additional resources.
Before trying acupuncture, always consult with a healthcare provider regarding its risks and benefits. Your healthcare provider can assist in finding a certified practitioner and ensure that any new treatment won’t interfere with any medications or exacerbate existing health problems – such as having a compromised immune system, being pregnant/breast-feeding, taking other prescribed or over-the-counter pain relievers etc. You should inform the acupuncturist about all other conditions you have as well as any medications (especially pain relievers) you are taking prior to initiating any new treatments such as acupuncture.
Massage
Rubbing is a natural human response to pain, and massage therapy works on this principle. By manipulating muscles and soft tissues in this way, massage stimulates nerve endings, increases blood flow and promotes relaxation. Massage may provide relief for cancer-related fatigue, back pain, muscle spasms and tension as well as anxiety or depression relief; although no scientific evidence shows its effect on cancer itself or chemotherapy/radiation treatments themselves (though some studies show short periods of massage can make you feel more at ease and prepared).
Finding a practitioner with appropriate credentials and training is key when searching for complementary medicine services. Be sure to inquire about their experience treating people with your particular health issue, whether or not they work with traditional healthcare providers and whether all medications, herbs and therapies taken help to manage care together more efficiently.
Massage can often be combined with aromatherapy, where essential oils are added to massage oil for aromatherapy purposes. While past research suggests aromatherapy’s potential to decrease anxiety levels, current research is limited and further investigation must occur before definitive conclusions can be drawn.
Comparative to mainstream medical treatments, complementary and alternative medicine therapies have not been subjected to rigorous clinical trials like conventional ones have. Some may cause harmful side effects, or interact with conventional cancer therapies; for more information please visit the NCI pages about Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Cancer as well as use NCI’s Physician Data Query (PDQ) which offers more details about specific CAM therapies available both to patients as well as health professionals.
Yoga
Yoga is a mind and body practice encompassing stretching and poses, breathing exercises, meditation and chanting or singing, often combined with Tai Chi or Qigong as forms of “meditative movement.” Studies have demonstrated its benefits for mental/emotional health management as well as pain reduction in people living with cancer or other conditions.
Prior to engaging in any complementary therapies, it’s wise to speak with your physician. They can assess whether they are safe for you and whether any might interfere with any treatments you are receiving, and help find scientific journal articles or books about them.
Most complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices haven’t been subjected to scientific scrutiny as rigorously as mainstream medical therapies have, but may provide benefits like relaxation, reduced stress and anxiety symptoms, improved sleep quality, or enhanced ability to cope with illness and treatment.
Studies suggest that yoga may help combat cancer-related fatigue and depression, improve sleep, mood, balance and strength as well as ease neck/back pain as well as nausea/vomiting from chemotherapy/radiotherapy treatments and ease knee osteoarthritis symptoms.
Reflexology uses pressure on feet and hands (reflexology) or needles inserted in skin (acupuncture). Others, like biofeedback, teach people how to alter how their bodies respond by changing behavior (for instance slowing breathing during stressful situations). The National Council for Complementary and Integrative Healthcare classifies most complementary and alternative medicine therapies into two categories: 1) natural products like herbs, vitamins, minerals and probiotics; and 2) mind and body practices like yoga, chiropractic manipulation, massage therapy, acupuncture, meditation hypnosis tai Chi and Qigong as well as herbal medicines. The NCCIH lists many such practices among many CAM therapies like these categories as yoga, chiropractic manipulation as well as herbal medicines among many more.
