Alternative & Complementary Treatment for Metastatic Colon Cancer

Although no alternative or complementary treatment is effective for curing metastatic colon cancer, there are some options available that can curb symptoms and improve the quality of life.

Alternative Treatment

• Most often, alternative treatments for people with metastatic cancer can help ease the pain and anxiety of the potentially life-threatening condition. According to the Mayo Clinic, most people go into distress mode after learning about terminal conditions. Symptoms of distress include depression, concentration issues, rage and loss of interest in eating or sleeping. While complementary treatments and therapies do little to change the situation, they can help redirect negative emotions and give you a different perspective.

Therapies

• Creative therapies such as art, dance and music therapy can help those with colon cancer shift negative perceptions to more positive thought processes. According to the American Cancer Society, these therapies can help people become more aware of emotional crises and express subconscious fears about their illness. By providing a creative outlet for all the negative emotions, creative therapies have cut down on anxiety, shortened hospital stays and helped with pain management.

Relaxation

• Another way to ease the psychological pain that accompanies colon cancer is learning relaxation techniques. In a 2001 issue of General Hospital Psychiatry, studies indicated that patients with high levels of distress benefited from guided relaxation, easing the body into a more relaxed state for up to six months. The most effective form of relaxation for cancer patients involved guided imagery where one person leads the patient through a series of relaxing images to relax the body.