Being diagnosed with cancer can be devastating, and for some people it means many months of uncomfortable and draining treatment. Some people who are diagnosed with cancer and do not want to use conventional treatments sometimes look towards alternative therapies to help them to cope with their illness. All some people may start using conventional treatments and then decide to end them and start using an alternative therapy treatment instead.
Perhaps you or someone you know has cancer and wants to know more about alternative therapies and how they can help. Often a person would choose to look into alternative therapies as they do not wish to go through radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Sometimes a person will have strong views on conventional treatments and will turn their back on them, looking towards alternative therapies instead.
Whilst alternative therapies can be of some use in fighting cancer, they are by no means a cure for cancer. It is also good to remember that the majority of alternative therapies have not been medically tested, so if you decide to use them you need to be aware that they could make you unwell.
There are a few types of alternative therapies that can be used to fight cancer, such as:
1. Gerson Therapy – this is a type of alternative therapy that looks at a cancer sufferer’s diet and makes changes to it. This will only include eating more oily fish, vegetables, fruit, cutting down on animal fat and red meat and increasing a person’s intake of fibre and whole grains.
2. Essiac – this alternative therapy is a herbal remedy which comes from a Canadian tripe. It is a mixture of different roots, leaves and bark. It is normally taken on as a supplement and it has been known to strengthen the immune system of cancer patients, reduce their pain, increase their appetite and even reduce tumour size.
3. Shark or cow cartilage – this type of alternative therapy comes in the form of a powder or capsule and is thought to work by slowing down the growth of cancer cells. However it can produce unpleasant side-effects such as vomiting and nausea.
4. Metabolic therapy – this type of alternative therapy is used to boost the patient’s immune system and get rid of any metabolic imbalances in the body. By altering the patient’s diet it is thought that the toxins in their body will be flushed out. Unfortunately there is no hard evidence to show that metabolic therapy helps cancer sufferers in their fight against cancer.
In addition to these alternative therapies for cancer patients also like to use therapies which focus on their emotions and their well-being. These can help to bring about positive effects in patients mood which can help them to face their illness with a positive attitude.
Whilst ultimately it is up to the individual to decide whether or not they would like to use alternative therapies to fight cancer, you should always speak to your doctor before doing so. So for more information on alternative therapies you can speak to Cancer Research UK, your GP, your hospital or A4e.
