Cancer Care Support
Cancer is an overall term for a group of diseases that occur due to abnormal cell reproduction. Most cancers are named according to where they originate within the body, and there are more than 100 different types. The most common are breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, and prostate cancer. Fortunately, there are more treatments available now than ever before to cure cancer or keep it from spreading to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
Conventional medical treatments include chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can safely be used to support a person’s body and mind as they undergo treatment. The National Cancer Institute has endorsed acupuncture as a viable alternative to treat the side effects of traditional treatment such as pain, nausea, neuropathy, dry mouth, fatigue, anxiety, depression, insomnia, hot flashes, diarrhea, and constipation.
While acupuncture does not treat cancer, its ability to stimulate and regulate multiple physiologic mechanisms within the body means that it can safely and often quite effectively address various symptoms resulting from standard medical care. It is often recommended to patients at major cancer treatment centers around the country for management of cancer symptoms and symptoms related to their cancer treatment.
Recommended Resources:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nalini-chilkov/can-acupuncture-treatment_b_577686.html
http://www.mdanderson.org/publications/cancerwise/archives/2008-july/cancerwise-july-2008-q-a-acupuncture-and-cancer-patients.html
http://www.mskcc.org/news/announcement/acupuncture-helps-ease-side-effects-and-symptoms-some
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/acupuncture/patient/Page2#Section_53