Current statistics suggest that conventional care achieves cure in 65% of patients. But this process is not easy, accompanied with great deal of fear, uncertainty and emotional distress that patients and their families are exposed to. Conventional cancer treatments in themselves may cause a variety of traumatic side effects with differing levels of severity and duration. As a result, a large number of patients are using complementary/ integrative medicine as a support to their care.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies such as acupuncture, massage and others may decrease the symptom burden caused by radiation and chemotherapy, while effectively treating the whole person and improve quality of life and wellbeing. Complementary therapies not only reduce the severity of chemotherapy and radiation side effects, but they may potentially lessen the need for additional medications. It seems that with current evidence there is compelling accumulated data that complementary therapies might carry benefit and healthcare providers, patients and families should take it into consideration in addressing this issue.
From the University of Wisconsin some tips to address
Breast Cancer treatment Side effects
Nutrition during Cancer treatment
An excellent book by Rebecca Katz can lead you in addressing nutrition during cancer treatment as well as practical recipes for side effects and speedy recovery
open the following link:
The Cancer Fighting Kitchen
Addressing specific symptoms
We will discuss some potential therapies that have been shown to have some beneficial effect in decreasing the symptom burden related to chemotherapy and radiation as well as share our clinical observations in providing this care.
Some of the symptoms that we will cover include:
Fatigue/ Weakness/ Lack of energy
Appetite
Taste Changes
Nausea
Mucositis ( Mouth sores)
Dry mouth
Insomnia
Anxiety
Diarrhea
Constipation
Pain
Neuropathy
Chemobrain/ Brain fog
Depression and complementary therapies
Depression additional options of care
Bloating and Gas- Abdominal
Skin problems
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Fatigue
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Pain
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Nutrition tips
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