Supportive Treatment Options For Cancer Patients
When many people think about patients undergoing cancer treatments, they only think of the basics such as radiation and chemotherapy. However, what these folks don't know is that there are many supportive treatments available to cancer patients as they undergo these difficult and harsh standard cancer treatments. So, if you or someone you love are currently undergoing radiation treatments or chemotherapy, get to know some of the alternative, supportive treatments that can be used to help maintain comfort and well-being throughout this difficult process. Supportive treatments can help to make the cancer treatment process easier and more comfortable.
Chiropractic Care
One of the common side effects of radiation and chemotherapy is aches and pains in the muscles and bones. Chiropractic care is designed to treat aches and pains through spinal manipulations and exercises.
The underlying philosophy behind chiropractic care is that the aches and pains people feel in their body can be largely attributed to misalignments in the spine. Because the nerves that communicate between the brain and the rest of the body run along the spine, they get pinched or blocked when the spine shifts and is out of alignment. This can contribute to the aches and pains you feel as you undergo your cancer treatments.
Your chiropractor will work with you to perform spinal manipulations or give you stretches and exercises to perform yourself to help get your spine back in alignment and relieve your pain and discomfort as you battle cancer. If you have bone cancer or tumors along the spinal region, or you have extremely low platelet counts, you may need to forgo chiropractic treatments or use non-force techniques to treat your body aches. Consult your physician and discuss your condition extensively with a chiropractor from a clinic like Rockwood Chiropractic if this is the case.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese tradition that has been in use for thousands of years. It stems from the idea that the human body operates through flowing energy throughout the body known as qi (chi). When this energy is blocked or out of balance, then the body can suffer from a number of different ailments and illnesses.
When a person is going through chemotherapy or radiation, their energy is often drained and they experience negative side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and extreme fatigue. Acupuncture treatments can help to alleviate these symptoms through the insertion of tiny needles into associated energy points throughout the body. These needles are designed to stimulate the flow of energy in the body and can restore energy balance in the body.
Supportive treatments can help cancer patients undergoing standard medical therapies to remain as healthy as possible and feel better and more energetic throughout the process. So, if you or someone you love are going through cancer treatments, consider these supportive treatments as a part of your care program.