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Alternatives to Chemo and Radiotherapy

According to the American Cancer Society, cancer causes one in every four deaths in the United States. It is vital for patients to be knowledgeable and able to choose for themselves how they want to approach their treatment plans. Many alternatives to the traditional chemo and radiotherapy are available for cancer patients to help them feel more comfortable with their situations.

  1. Alternative Treatments

    • Alternative treatment practices include acupuncture, yoga, herbal medicines, nutritional supplements, hypnosis, meditation, guided imagery, Chinese energy therapy, Ayurvedic harmony therapy and homeopathy. Rather than making a patient choose between conventional Western medicine and alternative medical practices, some doctors offer a comfortable hybrid. This involves "complementary" medicinal treatments of supplements and energy procedures in addition to conventional care, according to an article in "U.S. News and World Report" entitled "Cancer and Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)."

      Duke University medical experts cite a relatively new approach called integrative medicine that encompasses all therapies and medical disciplines--conventional, alternative and preventive--to fully heal a person's mind, body, spirit and community. However, a patient must exercise good judgment when choosing any hybrid treatment because some herbal or antioxidant supplements can actually interfere with the effectiveness of traditional chemo and radiotherapy. It is important for cancer patients to consult with their medical practitioner before going further with alternative or integrative treatments.

    Preventive Herbal Medicine

    • Jenna L. Sturgeon, author of "Efficacy of Green Tea in the Prevention of Cancers," says green tea reduces cancerous growth. Green tea's anticarcinogenic properties may slow the progression of prostate cancer and shrink leukemia cells, but its long-term effectiveness remains unknown. Japanese medicinal mushrooms such as maitake and meshima may also suppress the harmful behaviors of cancerous cells in the breast, according to an article in the "Townsend Letter." Moreover, a traditional anti-inflammatory treatment involving Ashwagandha---or "Indian Ginseng"--leaves has been effective in normalizing physiological functions in cancer patients.

    The State of Health-Care Alternatives

    • A movement toward the acceptance of alternative treatments has emerged in recent years; such states as Colorado, Georgia and New York have adopted a policy allowing physicians to practice alternative medicine in their respective states without the fear of having their licenses revoked. To find licensed practitioners of alternative medicine, the University of Pittsburgh webpage for alternative medicine (pitt.edu/~cbw/gov.html) is a good place to start.

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