Lung cancer can typically be treated through surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or some combination thereof. Chemotherapy involves using drugs to kill cancer cells while surgery removes some of the tumor. Radiation may be used either before or after surgery as well as treating cancer that has spread throughout the body.
Complementary and alternative treatments can help alleviate side effects associated with lung cancer treatments, but they cannot cure cancer themselves.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture can provide relief for many symptoms, from pain to nausea and vomiting caused by cancer treatments, and sometimes to reduce side effects associated with chemotherapy such as fatigue and diarrhea.
Acupressure involves applying gentle finger pressure to specific points on the body in order to relieve stress and enhance mood, as well as reduce pain and anxiety related to cancer treatments.
CAM therapies may be useful for people living with cancer, but they should never serve as a replacement to standard cancer therapies. When trying any alternative therapy regimens, always consult your physician first as they will be best equipped to determine its safety for you as well as help secure funding for these therapies.
Acupressure
Acupressure is a therapeutic technique derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). According to TCM, life energy (qi) flows along pathways known as meridians in our bodies. Acupressure stimulates these meridien points to relieve pain by rebalancing our yin and yang energies according to University of Michigan Health’s Rogel Cancer Center.
Acupuncture may help ease fatigue and nausea for some lung cancer patients. According to a 2007 clinical trial, both acupuncture and acupressure improved CRF scores of chemotherapy recipients – though the latter offered greater results. Acupressure is safe to try in an optimal environment and easy to administer; plus it’s relatively inexpensive.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy uses fragrant plant oils known as essential oils to promote health and well-being. Aromatherapy essential oils may be inhaled through inhalation or massaged into the skin to increase overall well-being, with their scent stimulating receptors within the nose that send signals directly to limbic system that control emotions.
Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of aromatherapy for relieving cancer-related anxiety, pain and nausea. But before embarking on any aromatherapy sessions yourself it’s wise to consult your physician as certain oils can trigger allergic reactions in those suffering from certain medical conditions or taking certain medications.
Herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage and body-based methods such as yoga and tai chi are among the many complementary therapies that may help manage lung cancer symptoms and side effects; however, these techniques alone cannot cure your illness; rather they should be used alongside standard cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
Meditation
Meditation is a mind-body healing practice involving focused attention and deep breathing. Meditation has many therapeutic benefits that include relieving anxiety, stress and fatigue as well as improving mood while decreasing blood pressure.
Meditation can take many forms, from repeating a word or phrase with phonetic significance as in mantram meditation to paying attention to the present moment in mindfulness meditation and movement meditative practices such as tai chi and qigong as part of Chinese medicine. Before beginning any alternative therapies it is wise to consult your physician first.
Do not opt for alternative therapies as a replacement to traditional medical treatment, as this could increase your risk of complications or death. With approval from your physician, meditation could be added as part of an alternative therapy regimen in order to alleviate side effects associated with chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Yoga
Although yoga does not prove that cancer can be cured, it can help people living with lung cancer cope with its symptoms and side effects more effectively. According to multiple studies, yoga has been found to reduce anxiety, fatigue and depression for some cancer patients.
Many lung cancer patients find yoga helpful in terms of sleeping better, relieving pain and nausea relief, and increasing mood – but always check with your physician first before beginning an unfamiliar form of exercise.
As part of yoga sessions, taking deep breaths can help keep oxygen flowing through the body and ease breathing difficulties caused by chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Group yoga classes can also provide social support while strengthening and stretching strength can also increase flexibility as well as teaching stress management techniques.