Pancreatic Cancer Alternative Treatments

With the advent of new technology to cure illnesses such as cancer, come new methods of alternative treatments, in which traditional drugs and hospitalization are not utilized. Cancer patients who are facing an uncertain cure from the illness turn to alternative treatments. These treatments often help address the first signs and symptoms of the illness.

Alternative Treatments

• Alternative medicine has evolved to the point that it has a wide span of approaches that can help improve the person's health and treat disease. Such treatments are not regarded as having a primary role within the medical community, as it does not use the standard approach to treatment. Therefore, alternative treatments should not be considered or used as a substitute, but rather a supplement to traditional medicine. Alternative medicine often includes massage therapy, acupuncture, homeopathy, hypnosis, or diet, among others.

Enzyme Therapy

• Enzymes are sometimes used to treat cancer as they help expose antigens on the cancer cells, which assist the immune system in identifying and destroying foreign cells. Fibrin masks the cancer cell's identity, making it hard for the body to identify foreign and harmful cells. This type of therapy uses pancreatic enzymes that help stimulate the cancer cells and eventually destroy them. Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez, of New York City, says he has used enzyme therapy and helped 81 percent of his patients survive longer than projected.

Acupuncture

• Traditional Chinese medicine has been in existence for a long time and is regarded as one of the most common types of alternative therapy for various complications and diseases. Acupuncture is one such therapy. It uses thin needles which are inserted at specific points (known as pressure points) in the body to regulate the body's vital energy flow. For pancreatic cancer, acupuncture is used to lessen the pain experienced by the patient.

Gonzalez Regimen

• According to the National Cancer Institute, another alternative cancer treatment is the Gonzalez regimen, wherein it equates the roles of vitamins, enzymes, minerals, and dietary factors. This is a regimen designed for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. The regimen helps fight the cancer, by eliminating cancer-causing toxins, balancing the nervous system as well as other key body functions and keeping the immune system healthy.

Massage Therapy

• In order to reduce the stress brought about by cancer, massage therapy is administered to complement existing treatments for pancreatic cancer. Massage is performed to improve the blood circulation in the body as well as reduce swelling and improve relaxation. This can also improve the general sense of the patient's well being.

Therapeutic Touch

• Therapeutic touch uses the hands and the body's energy to help the healing process. This therapy is based on the concept that people are a form of energy. It is believed that with disease comes an imbalance in the body's natural energy. Such therapy addresses this issue and is generally performed by the practitioner holding their hands 2 to 4 inches from the patient's body (the patient is fully clothed) and begins moving them from head to toe, and then front to back. According to research, this form of therapy promotes relaxation as well as improves the patient's well being and sense of comfort. It is also proven to alter pain perception and lessen anxiety.