When diagnosed with cancer, patients may assume that their treatment options are limited to chemotherapy or radiation treatment. While these are the most common and highly effective treatment options for cancer, there are alternative therapies that may help ease your condition in other ways as you are undergoing cancer treatment, depending on the type of cancer you have and how much it has progressed. These are adjunct or alternative cancer treatments :
Acupuncture
This treatment involves a licensed practitioner inserting tiny needles into your skin at specific points all over your body. Acupuncture has been shown to be helpful in relieving certain types of cancer-related pain and nausea that accompany chemotherapy. It is safe to perform, provided you are not taking blood thinners or have low blood count. You should check with your doctor first before undergoing acupuncture.
Aromatherapy
This therapy involves the use of fragrant oils to provide a calming effect. These oils can be applied to your skin during massage or added to bath water. They can also be heated to release additional scents, which can be helpful in relieving stress and bouts of nausea and pain. However, patients with types of cancer that are estrogen sensitive, including some forms of breast cancer, should refrain from applying copious amounts of lavender oil or tea tree oil to their skin before consulting with their doctors.
Gentle Exercise
Alternative treatments like exercise have been known to help relieve fatigue and stress during and after cancer treatment. Exercise can also help you sleep better at night. Of course, you should check with your doctor before beginning an exercise routine and start slowly, increasing your activity gradually as you go along.
Massage
Treatments like massages also help during cancer treatment as they help relieve muscle tension and stress, while promoting relaxation. Massages can also help relieve pain, anxiety, and fatigue. Your doctor can refer you to a massage therapist who works with cancer patients, using the appropriate amount of pressure and avoiding areas of the body receiving other forms of treatment.
When considering your treatment options, there is a very safe, effective alternative cancer treatment to traditional radiation therapy and it’s called CyberKnife® radiotherapy. Like conventional radiation, CyberKnife is a non-invasive treatment that delivers concentrated, high doses of radiation to tumors and lesions to destroy cancer cells. The difference, however, is that CyberKnife uses a robotic arm that precisely targets those cells without affecting surrounding tissues and organs. As a result, it is a painless procedure, and there are minimal, if any, lingering side effects.
If you have been diagnosed with cancer and are looking for an alternative course of treatment that is just as effective as traditional radiation therapy, but without the discomfort and potential complications, you owe it to yourself to learn more about the CyberKnife system. To discover if you are a suitable candidate for this revolutionary technology that has helped so many cancer patients for more than 30 years, contact the CyberKnife Center of Miami to arrange a consultation. You can reach us at (800) 204-0455 or (305) 279-2900 or fill out our convenient online form to make an appointment.
Or go to our website now. www.cyberknifemiami.com