Cancer is a term that is used for literally hundreds of diseases that affect the body. It is thought to be a genetic disease and causes cells in the body to grow uncontrollably. These cells have the ability to move around the body from the original source and spread to other areas. Where you develop cancer will determine the physical symptoms you suffer and if you have any concerns you should ensure you seek immediate medical advice.

The main allopathic treatments for cancer are chemotherapy and radiation. These can be quite invasive and toxic to the body with severe side effects. A small proportion of the population will use alternative treatments on their own for cancer treatment however most will use them as a compliment to allopathic remedies. You should be careful when selecting an alternative therapist for cancer as it can be a very difficult time and people who make claims about cancer cure rates can be very convincing. It is important to do a thorough check on any practitioner you are looking to work with.

There are various different alternative therapies that can benefit a cancer sufferer and below are some details of approaches you may want to take:

• Traditional Medicines – There are a number of different treatments under this title, for example acupressure and acupuncture can be very beneficial in reducing stress, pain and aiding the immune system. Chinese herbal medicine has also helped contribute to a number of cancer drugs and so could play a significant role in your treatment. Ayurvedic medicine could help boost the immune system and help with the side effects of both chemotherapy and radiation. It will use techniques such as herbs, massage, yoga, breathing and meditation. You could also consider naturopathy and homeopathy in order to help strengthen the immune system.
• Psychological Therapies – the aim with these types of therapies is to help the patient deal with the mental challenges associated with cancer. It is believed that the mind can have a significant effect on the body and by keeping the mind strong it can aid with the healing process. The types of therapies you could consider are psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, meditation and biofeedback among others.
• Physical Therapies – these are treatments that aim to boost the immune system as well as to reduce stress and reduce the side effects of conventional treatments. These will be things like massage, yoga, Tai Chi and others.

• Nutritional Therapies – it has been recognised that your diet can have a major impact on cancer. You could consider seeing a nutritionalist in order to assess your diet and supplements could be recommended. You could also consider Gerson therapy which has done some great work with cancer sufferers.