Making Choices About Colon Cancer Alternative Treatment
It's natural to want to fight your
colon cancer in any way you can. There is a lot of information available, and new methods for treating cancer are always being tested, so it may be hard to know where to start.
Many people try alternative treatment as part of their cancer care.
Colon cancer alternative treatment does not work for everyone, but some methods may help you manage stress, nausea, pain, or other symptoms or side effects.
Types of Colon Cancer Alternative Treatment
We are learning about complementary and alternative medicine therapies every day, but there is still more to learn. Consumers may use the terms "natural," "holistic," "home remedy," or "Eastern medicine" to refer to complementary and alternative medicine. However, experts use five categories to describe it.
The five colon cancer alternative treatment types include:
- Mind-body medicines
- Biologically based practices
- Manipulative and body-based practices
- Energy medicine
- Whole medical systems.
Mind-Body Medicines
Mind-body medicines are based on the belief that your mind is able to affect your body. Some examples include:
- Meditation: Focused breathing or repetition of words or phrases to quiet the mind
- Biofeedback: Using simple machines, the patient learns how to affect certain body functions that are normally out of one's awareness (such as heart rate)
- Hypnosis: A state of relaxed and focused attention in which the patient concentrates on a certain feeling, idea, or suggestion to aid in healing
- Yoga: Systems of stretches and poses, with special attention given to breathing
- Imagery: Imagining scenes, pictures, or experiences to help the body heal
- Creative outlets: Taking part in activities such as art, music, or dance.
Biologically Based Practices
This type of colon cancer alternative treatment uses things found in nature. This includes
dietary supplements and herbal products. Some examples include:
- Vitamins
- Herbs
- Foods
- Special diets.
A note about nutrition: It's common for people with cancer to have questions about different foods to eat during treatment. Yet it's important to know that there is no one food or special diet that has been proven to control cancer. Too much of any one food is not helpful, and may even be harmful. Because of the nutritional needs you may have, it's best to talk with the doctor in charge of your treatment about the foods you should be eating.
Previous
Add this article to your Favorites
Email this article
Print