Breast cancer is shockingly common, with an estimated one in every 8 women in the Unites States being at risk of contracting the disease, with 128 out of every 100,000 women being at risk of dying from it. As upsetting as the disease is, the conventional treatments for it can be nearly if not as traumatic †surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and other medications can have such serious side effects that it is small wonder that people turn to alternative and complementary treatments for breast cancer. People may opt to use therapies other than mainstream cancer treatments as stand along therapies; or they may choose to supplement their treatment with holistic practices. And even those who choose to go the chemotherapy/surgery way find that the side effects of these treatments such as stress, nausea, weakness, and so on can be ameliorated to a great extent by using CAM therapies. Even the CDC’s website concedes that alternative treatments are of great benefit for lessening side effects and symptoms of cancer. Herbal therapies Ancient medicine such as Ayurveda and Chinese natural herbal remedies do claim to offer cancer cures; however these claims have not been substantiated in practice. Anecdotal evidence is however able to show how such herbal therapies can and do work. Studies have also demonstrated the ability of the extracts of green tea to shrink tumors and so the impact that herbs can have on cancers is a still a developing subject. Lowering stress At any time during breast cancer therapy, women find that the stress and anxiety relating to their disease can be mitigated by practices such as yoga, meditation, creative therapies, visualization and other techniques. Yoga and certain breathing techniques, it is claimed can also help strengthen immunity and help the body fight the disease better. Harnessing the power of the mind Most of us would have heard the miraculous stories of individuals who have cured themselves of their cancers seemingly spontaneously. In a sense it is possible to â€think’ yourself better; on the other hand many people find that use of energy medicines such as Reiki and Qi Gong, which seeks to heal by using energy and manipulate the energy field about the body. Massage Massage is thought to help lower stress and muscular tension. It is also sometimes used as part of the recovery process after cancer treatment, though it may not be advisable when there is inflammation. Acupuncture Acupuncture is known to be helpful in combating a variety of different ailments, and some claim that it even helps with cancer. Reflexology and Acupressure Both these disciplines are different but are predicated upon the application of pressure at certain points of the body (the feet in the case of reflexology) that are meant to produce certain results in other parts of the body. Nutritional therapy Certain nutritional supplements are often used in conjunction with mainstream therapies for cancer and help patients experience fewer or less acute side effects. The bottom line with using complementary or alternative treatments for breast cancer is that one should opt for as holistic an approach as possible so that the treatment is effective but at the same time doesn’t create dangerous side effects for the cancer sufferer.
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