Complementary cancer care is treatment that supports and augments conventional cancer therapies provided by a patient's physician and local cancer clinic. Its purpose is to provide extra layers of support that give the patient the best possible chances for recovery and makes their lives more comfortable as they undergo the physical and psychological stress of illness.
Treatments for severe diseases such as cancer and HIV infection have well-known, significant side effects and in these days of powerful therapeutic drugs people are often looking for gentler, safer options. Many people utilize mainstream medicine for diagnosis and basic information, while turning to alternatives for what they believe to be health-enhancing measures. Complementary therapies have been growing in public recognition and support since the 1970s.
Edzard Ernst, Professor of Complementary Medicine at the University of Exeter, wrote in the Medical Journal of Australia that "about half the general population in developed countries use complementary and alternative medicine."
Continued...The term complementary medicine" implies cooperation between two or more approaches to treatment, each balancing and complementing the other(s) and its goal is to balance the whole person — physically, mentally, and emotionally — while conventional medicine does its work.
An example of complementary care is aromatherapy therapy in which the scent of essential oils from flowers, herbs, and trees is inhaled in an attempt to promote health and well-being and to help lessen a patient's discomfort following surgery. The theory of this therapy is that essential oils are absorbed into the body either through the pores of the skin during massage, or by inhalation through the nose providing relief of symptoms.
Complementary cancer treatments used for pain can include:
- Acupuncture
- Low-level laser therapy
- Meditation
- Aroma therapy
- Chinese medicine
- Dance therapy
- Music therapy
- Massage
- Herbs
- Therapeutic touch
- Yoga
- Osteopathy
- Chiropractic
- Naturopathy
- Homeopathy
- Nutritional medicine
These non-pharmacological interventions can employ mind-body interventions designed to reduce pain and mood disturbance and increase quality of life. Some mind-body techniques, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, were once considered complementary medicine, but are now a part of conventional medicine in the United States. These days, they're recognized and approved by many health care professionals.
The combination of orthodox and complementary medicine with an emphasis on prevention and lifestyle changes is known as integrated medicine.
Sensory complementary medicine therapies are treatments that work in conjunction with the five senses: smell, sight, taste, sound and touch, as well as the body's overall energy.
Some patients find that these holistic treatments can help alleviate the side effects, pain and anxiety generally associated with chemotherapy and cancer treatments.
A word of caution...Conventional treatments are subjected to testing for undesired side-effects, whereas alternative treatments generally are not subjected to such testing at all. For this reason, alternative medicine is considered more acceptable in palliative care than in other areas of medicine. So do your homework before engaging in any non-conventional approaches and always consult your doctor first!
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Often when you are focused on taking care of a loved one with cancer, you forget about yourself. It's easy to think of everything your loved one might need or what might make them feel better. It's just as easy to lose track of yourself. To maintain your own health, you need to focus on yourself, even if it is for just 15 minutes a day.