Complementary Care

Complementary care refers to therapies that are used in support with conventional medical treatments.  Clinic and hospital can offer complementary care to help improve quality of life.  Examples of complementary care are psychological or spiritual counseling or support, nutritional counseling, exercise programs, massage, relaxation and visualization. These therapies usually help to reduce stress, improve the immune system and may reduce the side effects of conventional medical care.  Complementary therapies help a person cope, incorporating body, mind and spirit.  Used with conventional medicine, these therapies allow a person to find what works best for them in reducing pain, decreasing anxiety, improving sleep, increasing their energy level and working towards improvement in the quality of their lives.

The American Cancer Society has a wonderful booklet concerning cancer pain; what causes pain, pain relief, assessing pain.  What is especially gratifying is that they have a Non-Medical Therapies section that includes massage.  Visit the American Cancer Society web-site and request Cancer Pain Treatment Guidelines for Patient. www.cancer.org

Clinical Massage for Cancer Patients is an informative site eduating patients in treatment about the risk and benefits of massage during treatment for cancer.

Massage during cancer treatment is just one of the many complementary therapies that may induce the “Relaxation Response,” a termed coined by Dr. Herbert Benson. Basically this means “all is calm” even temporarily. Your heart beats slower, your breathing relaxes, and endless chatter in your head subsides for awhile.  Many activities can induce the Relaxation Response.  Anything that diverts your mind from fears and concerns allows you a few moments of peace.

Massage Therapists in a hospital setting, have the opportunity to talk with patients about what relaxes them, if they choose not to have a massage.  These conversations allow patients to see how they are intuitively helping themselves in a positive way.  Besides massage, here are a few other relaxation techniques during treatment:

 Biofeedback

Prayer

Integrative Medicine and Complementary and Alternative Therapies as Part of Blood Cancer Care

Should I tell my doctor about my alternative or complementary therapy

Comp Medicine Cancer Care

Please share your relaxation techniques during your treatment by email Toni@acaringtouchforcancer.com