My guest blogger today is Jillian S. McKee.
If you have been diagnosed with cancer such as mesothelioma , you are probably weighing your options carefully as you work with your doctors to come up with a treatment plan. While the treatment of cancer will require treatments like chemotherapy and radiation, many herbal and complementary treatments exist that can help ease the symptoms of your cancer and its treatment.
It's important to note that these treatments are not to be used in place of traditional treatments, but alongside – hence the term “complementary.” Follow your doctor's instructions fully and ask your medical team any questions you may have about your treatment. If you choose to try herbal or other alternative treatments, be sure to let your medical team know.
Be careful when looking at complementary and alternative medical therapies. Be especially wary of treatments that make extraordinary claims -- for example, alternative therapies that claim to cure cancer. If it sounds too good to be true, it likely is. An improved
mesothelioma prognosis or life expectancy beyond diagnosis however, can sometime be in the patient’s control as they explore tertiary treatment options.
One branch of alternative medicine is based on the belief that you can use your mind to affect change in your body. Therapies that fall under this line of practice include
-- Meditation
-- Biofeedback
-- Hypnosis
-- Yoga
-- Imagery
-- Creative outlets, for example art, music or writing
Dietary supplements and herbal products, including vitamins, herbs, foods and special diets also make claims about their abilities to help those with cancer.
It is important to note that no single food is known that can cure cancer. Good nutrition is always important, though, so paying close attention to your diet and perhaps meeting with a dietician is a good step to take. Keeping your body healthy will help fight cancer.
Some other methods of treatment involve the manipulation of the body. Many of these therapies are recognized by the National Cancer Institute. Massage, chiropractic treatment and reflexology fall into this category. Massage manipulates the muscles and soft tissues, chiropractic manipulates the joints and skeletal system and reflexology uses the pressure points of the hands and feet to create change in other areas of the body.
The field of energy medicine is based on the principle that creating balance in the energy fields of the body can affect a change physically. Practices that are found in this field include
-- Tai Chi
-- Reiki
-- Therapeutic touch
The field of complementary medicine is growing, and more and more studies are being done to learn more about the power of natural healing and healing that comes from within. Talk to your medical team and feel free to explore your options. When you feel like control is in your hands, an improved outlook on cancer or prognosis is to be expected.
It's important to note that these treatments are not to be used in place of traditional treatments, but alongside – hence the term “complementary.” Follow your doctor's instructions fully and ask your medical team any questions you may have about your treatment. If you choose to try herbal or other alternative treatments, be sure to let your medical team know.
Be careful when looking at complementary and alternative medical therapies. Be especially wary of treatments that make extraordinary claims -- for example, alternative therapies that claim to cure cancer. If it sounds too good to be true, it likely is. An improved mesothelioma prognosis or life expectancy beyond diagnosis however, can sometime be in the patient’s control as they explore tertiary treatment options.
One branch of alternative medicine is based on the belief that you can use your mind to affect change in your body. Therapies that fall under this line of practice include
-- Meditation
-- Biofeedback
-- Hypnosis
-- Yoga
-- Imagery
-- Creative outlets, for example art, music or writing
Some other methods of treatment involve the manipulation of the body. Many of these therapies are recognized by the National Cancer Institute. Massage, chiropractic treatment and reflexology fall into this category. Massage manipulates the muscles and soft tissues, chiropractic manipulates the joints and skeletal system and reflexology uses the pressure points of the hands and feet to create change in other areas of the body.
The field of energy medicine is based on the principle that creating balance in the energy fields of the body can affect a change physically. Practices that are found in this field include
-- Tai Chi
-- Reiki
-- Therapeutic touch
The field of complementary medicine is growing, and more and more studies are being done to learn more about the power of natural healing and healing that comes from within. Talk to your medical team and feel free to explore your options. When you feel like control is in your hands, an improved outlook on cancer or prognosis is to be expected.