Supportive Cancer Treatments To Consider Adding To Your Routine

When you are diagnosed with cancer, your doctors will formulate a treatment plan. These treatments will have the goal of getting rid of your cancer. Following your doctor's treatment plan and going through with the recommended treatments is usually the best way to proceed. However, you may also want to talk to your doctor about adding some cancer support treatments to the mix. These are not treatments that directly cure or treat your cancer. Instead, they are designed to support your mental and physical health during cancer treatment so that you are better able to respond to the actual cancer cures and treatments. So, what cancer support treatments are most worth considering?

Nutritional Therapy

Providing your body with the right nutrients can help it stay strong and healthy while you navigate cancer treatment. But getting the right nutrients can be tough when you have nausea and other digestive side effects from cancer treatments like chemotherapy. A nutritional therapist can work with you to design a diet that is nutrient-dense. They can customize it to suit your tastes and even make changes if your tastes change as you navigate cancer treatment.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical practice that can re-balance and redirect the flow of energy through the body. It is especially good at relieving pain and reducing stress. Cancer treatment often comes with a lot of pain and stress, and acupuncture is a minimally invasive way to manage it. Your practitioner will insert needles at specific points along your body. These needles are so tiny that you'll barely feel them going in. You'll relax for a while with the needles in place. Most people find that they get the best results with regular acupuncture treatments during cancer treatment.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is not just for athletes and people who have had joint replacements. A physical therapist can guide you through exercises that help you adapt to the changes your body goes through during cancer treatment. For example, if you notice that cancer surgery has left your right leg weak, a physical therapist can help you stretch and strengthen that leg. This can help you feel more "normal" as you proceed through cancer treatment and can make for more effective, complete, long-term healing.

Talk to your doctor about these and other supportive cancer therapies. They truly help you take a whole-body approach to cancer treatment. For more information about cancer-supported treatments, reach out to a local clinic.