Helping Yourself

Complementary and Alternative Therapies – an introduction

The terms complementary and alternative (increasingly known as CAM's) generally refers to any therapy that is not provided by orthodox health professionals.

'Complementary' describes treatments that can be used alongside conventional treatment. Osteopathy, homeopathy and massage therapy for instance or self-help measures like yoga or meditation.

'Alternative medicine' is understood to mean therapies that are used in place of conventional medicine. For example, when cancer patients choose not to have chemotherapy and radiotherapy and instead follow special extreme dietary regimes or take high doses of nutritional supplements.

Where complementary therapies are used within a conventional medical setting as part of prescribed treatment, this is known as 'integrated medicine'.

Complementary Therapies in Cancer

Complementary therapies can have a real role to play in alleviating some of the side-effects of conventional treatment and consequences of cancer.

Most therapies have a holistic approach that believes health and well-being flows from the harmonious balance of our physical, psychological and spiritual selves - body, mind and spirit. A disruption in any of these spheres can impact on one or both of the others. Restoring this internal balance is said to stimulate the body's natural self-healing processes.

In this section we have focused on six therapies that we know are used most frequently - the links take you to the relevant pages on the CancerHelp website.

Acupuncture : Click here for details
Acupuncture can stimulate the release of endorphins, the body's own 'feel-good' chemicals, which can help you to relax and feel better. There is good evidence that acupuncture can help improve nausea caused by chemotherapy and the therapist may show you how to stimulate acupoints to help you treat yourself.
Aromatherapy : Click here for details
Aromatherapy is frequently used to help with feelings of stress, anxiety and depression. The essential oils can be used in a number of ways including aromatherapy massages from a trained therapist.
Homeopathy : Click here for details
Homeopathic remedies may be able to help with some of the side effects of therapy, such as a sore mouth caused by chemotherapy. A properly trained and registered homeopath will try to find specific remedies matched to your particular symptoms.
Hypnotherapy : Click here for details
Hypnotherapy can help you relax and ease tension and has been shown in several studies to help control pain, nausea and/or vomiting. In addition a number of different studies have shown that relaxation and breathing, especially when combined with visualisation, can help control pain and ease symptoms such as nausea and anxiety.
Massage : Click here for details
Massage can be tremendously relaxing and help cope with the stress of having cancer. Particular kinds of massage may be indicated for specific problems. For example lymphatic drainage massage can help to prevent lymphoedema (swelling of the arm caused by lymph fluid that cannot drain away), a side-effect of some breast cancer treatment.
Spiritual Healing : www.nfsh.org.uk (National Federation of Spiritual Healers)
Many people with cancer report that healing, and therapeutic touch; a technique based on healing, helps ease anxiety and improve feelings of emotional and spiritual well-being.

For further information we recommend the following websites:

Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health
Web Info Source : www.fih.org.uk offers comprehensive information on 16 different complementary therapies including guidance on finding a therapist, what you can expect during a consultation and average costs.

New Approaches to Cancer
Web Info Source : www.anac.org.uk is probably the UK's best known charity for complementary therapies and holistic treatment for cancer. In addition to an informative website they offer an information and referral service and a wide range of books, videos and DVD's at very reasonable prices.

CANCERActive
Web Info Source: www.canceractive.com includes a comprehensive guide to a wide range of complementary and alternative therapies.

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Nutrition & Supplements

The importance of good nutrition whilst undergoing cancer treatments is well recognized but it is often difficult to find good advice. We believe that the websites included here will answer your queries between them.

The Penny Brohn Cancer Centre
Tel: 0845 123 2310
Web Info Source : www.pennybrohncancercare.org (formerly known as the Bristol Cancer Help Centre) has been the UK's leading organization in complementary care for many years; nutrition is one of the core principles in their approach which has been emulated all over the world. Advice on all aspects of nutrition can be obtained through their website or call their helpline.

CANCERactive
Web Info Source : www.canceractive.com offers a comprehensive overview of the role of diet in cancer treatment then visit the website.

Nutrition in Cancer
Web Info Source : www.nutritionincancer.co.uk is a comprehensive website owned by Nutricia Ltd. It is well worth a visit as it includes a query service.

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Dietary therapies

Nutrition has also become the basis for some 'alternative' therapies - probably the best known is the Gerson Therapy, but there are many more. These therapies are not about improving your diet to support your body while you undergo conventional treatment; these are in place of those treatments.

For a comprehensive explanation and further links then visit the CANCERactive website.

Dietary Supplements

The question of dietary supplements seems to be becoming more complex rather than simpler as time goes on and we are aware that many people are looking for clear information. The websites that we have chosen to include support the use of supplements but take differing approaches. We hope that we have not caused you further confusion, rather that we have helped you answer your queries.

Penny Brohn Cancer Centre
Web Info Source : www.pennybrohncancercare in addition to the information on the website there is a downloadable leaflet on their guidelines to the use of supplements in cancer treatment.

CANCERactive
Web Info Source : www.canceractive.com has the most extensive information on supplements and their role in cancer treatment that we can find. Much of the information is based on science and is written in an easily readable format.

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Nutritional Therapy

Nutritional therapists help people to improve and maintain their health through diet and nutrition. They use their knowledge of food and nutrition to give advice on diet, which may encourage the body's natural healing process. This may focus on which foods to eliminate or increase, recommend vitamin or mineral supplements and other lifestyle changes.

The British Association of Nutritional Therapists (BANT)
Web Info Source : www.bant.org.uk is a self-regulating professional body that holds a nationwide register of practitioners who have qualified at BANT-approved schools, are insured and are required to abide by the association's code of ethics and practice so we suggest they are a good place to start.

An Integrated Approach

CANCERactive
Web Info Source : www.canceractive.com provides the most comprehensive information on developing an integrated approach to cancer treatment that we can find. The information is objective, well researched and presented in an easily understood format.

Integrated Cancer Care
Web : www.integratedcancercare.org Based at the Fountain Centre at St Lukes Hospital in Guildford the Integrated Cancer Care Centre offers medical and psychosocial support for patients (and their families) using non conventional anti cancer treatments.

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Page Updated : 13-Jul-2009