When you’re feeling the symptoms of cancer or treatment side effects -- pain, nausea, fatigue, anxiety -- you may want to look beyond standard medicine for solutions. Complementary therapies won’t treat or cure the disease, but many of them can help you feel better and blend safely into your care. Before you try one, be sure to talk about it with your doctor.
This exercise, which focuses on breathing, stretches, and physical poses, is a low-stress way to move and feel better. Some people in cancer treatment who took up the practice with an experienced instructor were less anxious and tired and felt better overall, researchers found. Before you roll out your mat, though, get a recommendation from your doctor and talk to the teacher to make sure you choose the right style of class for you.
This therapy aims to control symptoms by placing very thin needles into specific points on your body. Studies suggest that it may help your nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy, but it’s not clear how well it works for symptoms such as pain and fatigue. If you try it, look for a licensed, certified acupuncturist or ask your doctor for a recommendation.
This therapy is a bit like acupuncture, but without the needles. A special bracelet stimulates a spot on the inside of your wrist. Although scientists aren’t sure how it works, studies have found that acupressure may ease nausea, a common symptom of cancer and its treatments, like radiation and chemotherapy.
A rubdown from a licensed massage therapist just feels good, plus it can ease symptoms like pain, fatigue, anxiety, nausea, and depression. It’s safe even for people in advanced stages of the disease. When you book an appointment, let the therapist know that you have cancer. He can offer some options that will work best for your condition. If you’re getting radiation, tell him to avoid those areas, as well as any skin that is red or swollen.
This ancient Chinese martial art focuses on slow movement, meditation, and breathing. It may help you feel better overall, studies suggest, and it could reduce fatigue from cancer, too. Scientists also think it may boost your immune system, which could be key in fighting cancer, but they need more research to know for sure.
People have used essential oils such as peppermint and eucalyptus as home remedies for centuries. You can rub them on your skin, breathe them in, or add a few drops to your bathwater or a compress. If you try one of these botanicals, you may feel less anxious and depressed and even sleep better. Watch out for allergic reactions on your skin, and if you have a tumor that’s sensitive to estrogen, steer clear of lavender and tea tree products.
This therapy can help you relax and manage pain. It uses special machines to monitor some of your body’s basic signals, like heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, and breathing. A licensed technician can teach you how to use this info to control how your body is working.
This technique harnesses the power of your mind. For instance, close your eyes and imagine yourself in a favorite spot, free of pain. You can combine it with progressive muscle relaxation, in which you tense and release parts of your body. You can guide yourself or work with a therapist (in person or recorded) for direction. One study found people in chemotherapy who used these therapies had less pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, and depression.
A massage that puts pressure on specific spots on the soles of your feet could help ease some of your symptoms. A study of women with breast cancer found that it especially helped with fatigue and shortness of breath. Plus, there’s no downside to a good foot rub.
This tool does not provide medical advice. See additional information
© 2016 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
How to Treat Your Symptoms
Learn MoreFind allergy relief tips for yourself and your family
Get started