Your first reaction to a cancer diagnosis is most likely one of disbelief and shock, followed by anxiety, anger, fear, and a depressive-like state. You may also experience fatigue, decision-making and concentration problems, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, and irritability. This is a normal, though unhealthy, process.
It, therefore, is important for you to start making informed decisions about your treatment options. In addition to conventional cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, complementary therapies can help reduce the side effects of these standard treatments and improve your emotional and physical well-being, as well as help you during your recovery process.
What are conventional cancer treatments?
Mainstream cancer treatments are the treatments currently accepted and widely used, evidence-based, and scientifically proven to be effective. They are designed to diagnose and treat cancer, slow its growth, or provide relief from symptoms. The main conventional treatments are surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and hormone therapy.
What are complementary cancer therapies?
Complementary therapies do not treat cancer itself but can eliminate toxins, boost your immunity, and generally support and enhance your quality of life, overall health, and well-being. These therapies help to comfort and relax you during and after your treatment, and help you feel more in control and involved in your healthcare. They can lessen the side effects of your treatments, such as nausea or fatigue, relieve pain, and help you deal with anxiety, stress, and other challenges you may experience during your cancer journey.
Popular complementary therapies include acupuncture, aromatherapy, massage, special diets, and counseling. For example, acupuncture may boost your immunity and reduce toxins in your liver caused by chemotherapy while aromatherapy may help you relax and sleep well.
Complementary therapies are not to be confused with alternative therapies. Alternative therapies are used in place of conventional cancer treatments, often promoted as “cancer cures”, but are unproven and have not been scientifically tested whereas there is a distinct trend within the medical community toward the integration of complementary medicine with the practice of conventional medicine.
These are some of the most used complementary therapies for cancer patients:
- Acupressure
- Acupuncture
- Aromatherapy
- Art therapy
- Breathing therapy
- Counseling, whether in private or group sessions
- Special diets (excluding animal protein)
- Exercise
- Guided imagery
- Hypnotherapy
- Laughing Therapy
- Massage
- Meditation
- Mindfulness
- Music therapy
- Reflexology
- Reiki
- Tai Chi
- Visualization
- Yoga
Physical therapies can help you build endurance and strength, as well as relax and better deal with stress. Being physically active can help relieve anxiety, depression, fatigue, and pain.
Nutrition is an important part of your cancer treatment. Eating the right foods before, during, and after treatment can help you maintain good immunity, manage your energy levels, weight changes, and nausea.
Acupuncture and acupressure release pain-reducing chemicals, such as beta-endorphin and serotonin, in your brain. They can also help reduce nausea and vomiting that chemotherapy causes and may also relieve other symptoms including anxiety, constipation and diarrhea, dry mouth, fatigue, fibromyalgia, headaches, hot flashes, loss of appetite, sleep problems, and weight changes.
Mind-body practices such as meditation and yoga can help you manage your mood, stress, and physical well-being.
Art and music therapy can help improve your general wellbeing and recovery.
Massage can reduce pain, stress, and tension; it may also help manage anxiety, depression, fatigue, post-surgery symptoms, and sleep problems.
During the upcoming months, we will share detailed posts on each type of complementary therapy.
As you can see, there are many different types of complementary therapies. Selecting the right therapy for you depends on your personal preference, your doctor’s advice, what is available to you locally, and the cost. You might try a few before you find the one(s) that work best for you.
Finding a therapist
It’s important to find a therapist from a reliable source. Some hospitals and cancer support centers provide complementary therapies. You can also consult our online directory which will be continuously updated. The cost of the therapy will vary per therapist, country, and region but, in Lebanon, we have found such therapies to be affordable. Whichever therapist you choose, it’s important that you trust them and feel safe and comfortable with them and their suggested therapy plan.
With the right therapy and therapist, you may find that complementary therapies offer much-needed support at all stages of your cancer journey.
We would love to hear from you. Do you have experience with complementary therapies? Are there therapists you recommend? Please email us at hello@sohawellness.com.
