Sunday, February 8, 2009

Looking Towards Alternative Breast Cancer Treatment

Cancer is one such disease which requires scrupulous medical and surgical treatment. However, certain alternative therapies can also play an important role towards breast cancer treatment. When people opt for alternative therapies, they use it instead of conventional treatments altogether. For example: A person may use a special diet for treating cancer instead of undergoing chemotherapy or another conventional treatment. Traditional Chinese medicines, acupuncture, acupressure, herbal remedies and special nutritional or diet therapies, are also examples of alternative breast cancer treatment. Also, special nutritional or diet therapies are popular, alternative breast cancer treatments.

One needs to understand, that our body is designed to heal by itself. But to make that happen, we should not try to injure a wound which will then not heal in itself. This is a common sense statement that I have made. Yet, I must say that many of us do injure our bodies, on a day to day basis, by the wrong ways of living and eating. If you continue to eat and live wrongly, then it will result in a disease of one type or the other. We then rush to doctors for treating our sickness or disease. However, mostly it is seen that doctors only know how to treat the symptoms of disease rather than addressing the root cause of the disease itself. There are many types of alternative breast cancer treatments that are available now. Some of them are as follows:

Herbal medicine: The tropical periwinkle is used to treat breast cancer and other malignancies. This periwinkle alkaloid is used in the making of vincristine, which is a very powerful chemotherapy agent. However, this alternative breast cancer treatment should be conducted carefully. Herbal periwinkle extracts are highly toxic in nature. Hence, this drug form should be given under medical supervision only.

Meditation and self hypnosis method: Women with advanced breast cancer stage, should participate in group support sessions that conduct meditation and self hypnosis methods. By doing so, they will increase their survival chances. The above mentioned alternate breast cancer treatment methods, mobilize the immune system to fight the further spread of cancer. Relaxation techniques help in removing stress and anxiety caused by cancer patient. This boosts the immune system of the body.

Nutrition Therapy: Nutritionist who use nutrition therapy as an alternative breast cancer treatment, will usually recommend supplements of beta carotene and vitamin's C and E too. Orange and dark green vegetables are examples of good sources of beta carotene. It is also found that a low-fat diet is likely to help in cutting down the risk of breast cancer and its recurrence. It will help in preventing cancer and will slow down its growth. It is a known fact that foods with high in antioxidants are more effective.

Self treatment: Cancer patients, who have undergone mastectomy, usually are concerned about their physical appearance. However, those women who do not undergo immediate breast reconstruction can initially use a temporary prosthesis such as cotton fluff inserted into the regular bra. Prosthesis is not required after a lumpectomy, but it is recommended to wear a bra day and night, for many days, following the surgery period, in order to prevent traction of the wound and to assist the breast in regaining its previous shape.

The patient can minimize swelling, by exercising the arm as soon as the surgeon gives a clear signal. The arm should be lifted as high as possible, several times in a day, in order to promote the flow of lymph. Exercises such as squeezing a rubber ball should also be performed. It is always recommended that the concerned person should wear loose fitting clothes and watches and purses should be used by the other hand which is good.

For more information on alternative breast cancer treatment go to http://www.understanding-breast-cancer-treatment.com

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