Alternative Treatment for Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most fatal types of cancer. According to the Mayo Clinic approximately 90 percent of cases are caused by smoking, so cancer of the lung is thus one of the easiest to prevent. In some cases, you may choose to utilize alternative medicine, either as a standalone treatment when others have failed or in conjunction with conventional medicine, to treat this disease.

Use

• Alternative medicine is often used when other treatment options have failed, and for some people it is a primary method of treatment. If used in conjunction with conventional treatment, it is called complementary medicine.

Types

• According to the Mayo Clinic, the American College of Chest Physicians says that yoga, acupuncture, hypnosis, massage and meditation are the most effective forms of alternative lung cancer therapy.

Effects

• Alternative treatments can provide you with a greater sense of well-being, as their main goal is to keep you healthy and strong enough to fight the cancer.

Considerations

• You should discuss alternative and complementary treatments with your doctor to determine is one or more are the right choice for you. If they are, you and your doctor will determine the best types for you.

Integrative Therapy

• Alternative treatment is sometimes offered in integrative therapy, which combines conventional treatment, such as chemotherapy, with alternative treatment, such as nutritional support and various forms of pain support. The focus is to treat you, not just the disease.