Many of those with cancer find themselves asking, “I have cancer, now what?”
Understanding how to survive cancer can be a difficult process, so you’ll need to do everything you can to fight it. Fortunately, you can do many things to make yourself healthier and feel better. Most things can be done from home, but some will require you to work with someone.
Alternative cancer treatments consist of natural things that have shown to improve the lives of others. By incorporating one or more alternative treatments into your life, you can increase the likelihood that you’ll get through cancer without many problems.
Keep on reading to learn more about several alternative cancer treatments!
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a relatively new cancer treatment, despite being popular for several years. Acupuncture is a type of massage that revolves around inserting sterile needles into the skin. This can help those with cancer because it’s known for relieving pain.
While the idea of acupuncture sounds scary, it’s completely safe because it’s done by licensed practitioners. If acupuncture is something you’d be interested in, you can ask your doctor for recommendations. If you take something like a blood thinner, you may not be able to safely do it, so consult with your doctor.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is something that many people are starting to do because they’re finding out that certain smells can produce calming effects. With aromatherapy, you can use oils that are infused with various scents to relieve nausea, pain, and stress.
Just like acupuncture, aromatherapy can be performed by a licensed practitioner. However, it’s safe to apply oils yourself. Keep in mind that if you’re allergic to something, you should check that the oil doesn’t contain anything that will negatively affect you.
Exercise
Those that are learning how to live with cancer are finding out that exercise can be one of the best things they can do while getting treatment. Gentle exercise will make you feel less fatigue and stress, which will help you sleep better. Not only will it help you fight cancer, but you’ll improve your overall quality of life.
If you haven’t exercised before, you should start as soon as possible. It’s best to ask your doctor for some basic advice because they’ll know what’s best for you to do. No matter what you do, start slowly in the beginning. As you gain experience, you can add more volume to your workouts.
Hypnosis
Hypnosis doesn’t work on everyone, but it can be useful for those with cancer that are looking to clear their minds. Hypnosis revolves around putting someone into a deep state of concentration. This is often done by having a therapist talk in a gentle tone while making you focus on something.
The therapist may attempt to have you focus on reducing stress and pain management. Those that suffer from anxiety will also benefit from this because they can better control their emotions. If you have a mental illness, let the therapist know so they can work around this.
Massage
A general massage will provide you with several benefits that include the relief of muscle tension and stress. Massages are all about making the recipient feel comfortable and relaxed. Most people get massages when they’d like to think about something or make their body feel better after exhaustion.
If you visit a cancer center, there’s a good chance they will have massage therapists available. Have your doctor refer you to one if you don’t know where to go. Make the massage therapist aware of surgical scars and areas where you receive radiation treatment. They’ll avoid them as best as they can when giving a massage.
Meditation
Similar to hypnosis, meditation is a state of deep concentration. However, it can’t be done with help from outside forces, so you’ll need practice by yourself to properly meditate. Meditation will receive anxiety and stress because you’ll be giving yourself time to avoid thinking about anything.
The whole point of meditation is to think about nothing so that you can completely clear your mind. One of the most common ways people say to start meditating is to focus on your breath without analyzing it. Start by trying to meditate for at least 10 minutes a day until you get better, then you can meditate for longer durations.
Music Therapy
While people regularly listen to music, they don’t get the same benefits as they would with music therapy. Music therapy involves playing instruments and listening to certain melodies to make you focus on music. You may also sing songs or write lyrics depending on who your instructor is.
Music therapy can be done in group settings or privately with an instructor. The aim is to get as involved with music as you can so that you have something else to think about during the day. In a way, music therapy will act as meditation because you’ll be focused on it.
Start Using These Alternative Cancer Treatments
Having cancer doesn’t mean you have to restrict yourself to the likes of chemotherapy. Now that you know of several alternative cancer treatments, you should start using them to make your life better as you recover.
We recommend you start with things like massages and exercising. Both of these will greatly improve the way you feel. You should also try experimenting with meditation as it’s something you can do anywhere. From there, you can start using more alternative treatments if needed.
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