Alternative medicine options for breast cancer
Few women are untouched by breast cancer. With one in 8 women being diagnosed with breast cancer, it is hard not to at least consider the possibility that you or a loved one may be affected. Fortunately, breast cancer treatment has come a long way and doctors are becoming more and more successful in riding the cancer that plagues their patients. But traditional medicine is not the only way to go if you are diagnosed with breast cancer. Many women feel that a combination of traditional breast cancer treatments and alternative medicine options yield the best results when it comes to winning the fight against breast cancer. While it is important to note that aggressive treatment of cancer symptoms has statistically proven more effective than alternative methods alone, it is not to say that alternative methods have no merit. Many women feel that their quality of life during breast cancer treatment is significantly improved because of the alternative medicine options that are available.
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Alternative medicine options vary greatly. One form of alternative medicine for breast cancer treatment is to improve one's nutrition. Some nutritional improvement suggestions include eliminating non-organic poultry, dairy, red meat, sugar, white flour and refined foods, coffee, tea, chocolate, and colas. It is also suggested that you eat cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower) and that you eat only organically raised foods. Others suggest that you include more "liver" foods such as beets, carrots, yams, garlic, dark leafy greens, lemons, and apples. Following a high fiber diet and using soy are other suggestions for using the alternative medicine of improving dietary health to help treat breast cancer.
Other alternative medicine option for breast cancer is to include nutritional supplements into your diet. Potentially beneficial nutritional supplements include: Coenzyme Q10 (120 mg three times a day), Calcium d-glucarate (500 to 1,000 mg three times a day), Vitamin A (25,000 IU a day), vitamin E (800 IU a day), and vitamin C (250 to 500 mg twice per day) to decrease side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. Also suggested are Selenium (200 to 400 mcg a day) to decrease side effects of chemotherapy and radiation Bromelain (500 mg two times a day between meals) and Melatonin (10 to 50 mg a day). Of course these dosage instructions are general recommendations and you should always consult with your physician before starting a diet supplement plan.
You could negatively interfere with your treatment if you took certain dietary supplements in specific doses while also on radiation therapy or other doctor prescribed medication. Herbal therapy alternative medicines include passionflower and kava kava(for anxiety), poke root and red root (for lymph node involved issues), ginger root and fennel seed are suggested herbs for nausea (a common side effect of chemotherapy), and for exhaustion, try oatstraw or skullcap. Recent studies of women suffering from the side effects of radiation and chemotherapy also revealed that acupuncture provided varying amounts of relief.
If you are looking for an alternative therapy that does not involve medicines, herbs, diet change, or any other substance that you put into your body, you may want to try simply having a good attitude. No disrespect is meant, with this suggestion as it is completely understood that cancer is a very sad, distressing and heartbreaking ordeal. However, remembering the positive when there is so much negative, really can help you feel better. Seeing a therapist or a psychologist to help you with your emotions is a very real and effective thing that you can try doing. Many cancer survivors will tell you that it was a positive attitude and the positive attitudes of loves one that helped them get through their experiences fighting cancer.
