Rebecca Valdez is a registered dietitian and nutrition communication consultant, passionate about food justice, fairness and sustainability.
Conventional treatment of breast cancer may include one or a combination of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or other targeted therapies. Depending on the type of cancer and the stage of diagnosis, some treatments may involve quite invasive surgery to remove large tumors.
Other systemic treatments (such as drugs that affect the entire body) can cause unpleasant and long-lasting side effects, which can reduce a person's quality of life. This is why many people may consider alternative, gentler or natural treatments called complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
Standard or conventional treatment is a system in which doctors and other health care professionals (such as nurses, pharmacists, and therapists) use drugs, radiation, or surgery to treat symptoms and diseases. It is also called mainstream medicine, orthodox medicine or western medicine.
CAM is becoming more and more common and popular, especially among breast cancer patients. It is estimated that 48% to 70% of breast cancer patients in the United States use it.
Use alternative medicine instead of standard medical treatment. Complementary medicine is used in conjunction with standard medical treatment, but is not considered standard treatment by itself.
CAM refers to the term for medical products and practices that are not part of standard healthcare. CAM can be used to:
Although CAM treatment can help cancer patients physically, mentally or emotionally, there are also some risks. Research on the treatment of breast cancer with CAM is still developing, and there are still many unknowns about the effectiveness of these combined therapies.
For any and all health care methods you are considering as part of your treatment, it is important to follow the guidance of your trusted medical team.
When choosing CAM therapy, the National Center for Complementary and Comprehensive Health recommends that you:
This article provides information on the latest research and results of preclinical or clinical trials on the most common CAM treatments for breast cancer patients.
Mind-body therapy combines mental concentration, breathing, and physical exercise to relax the body and mind. These include meditation, biofeedback, hypnosis, yoga, Tai Chi and Qigong, imagery and creative channels such as art, dance or music.
Yoga is an ancient Indian, non-religious method of mind and body, including meditation, mindfulness, breathing, activities and postures.
Yoga is the most recommended physical and mental therapy that can improve the quality of life of breast cancer patients. The benefits of yoga for breast cancer patients include reducing cancer-related anxiety, depression, fear and fatigue, and improving sleep.
There are many styles of meditation, but they all practice self-observation of mental activity, attention and attention training, and cultivate an attitude that focuses on the process rather than the content.
The Society of Comprehensive Oncology recommends meditation as a supportive treatment to reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and fatigue.
Art therapy uses art as a form of emotional support to help patients diagnosed with cancer deal with and cope with the difficult feelings, ideas, and challenges associated with diagnosis and treatment. This includes creating art, viewing art, and talking about art.
Music therapy uses music to promote recovery and improve the quality of life. It may include interactive music therapy techniques (instrumental improvisation, singing) and receptive music therapy techniques (listening to recordings or live music).
Dance therapy uses exercise to improve physical and mental health. For breast cancer survivors, dance therapy may help restore a certain range of motion; boost energy; heal and thrive physically and emotionally; and increase the sense of elegance and femininity.
The benefits of these treatments for breast cancer patients include:
Creative channels such as art, dance, and music therapy are all mind-body therapies. They cannot cure cancer, but aim to improve the mental health of cancer patients. These are thought to improve the body's ability to fight cancer and prolong survival.
Biology-based practices use things found in nature, such as vitamins, dietary supplements, enzymes, herbs and spices, as well as special foods, teas and diets. In the United States, more than one-third of adults with cancer may use some form of CAM medical products.
Antioxidants protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, which may play a role in cancer. They are found naturally in fruits and vegetables, as well as in artificial substances such as dietary supplements. Common antioxidants include:
Many people believe that antioxidant dietary supplements may help protect and repair healthy cells during cancer treatment. However, there is no evidence that these dietary supplements are safe and effective in controlling breast cancer treatment or symptoms.
In fact, studies have shown that the use of antioxidant supplements increases the risk of death during breast cancer treatment and increases the risk of cancer recurrence after treatment.
Aromatherapy uses plant essential oils to improve physical, mental, and spiritual health. This is usually done by inhaling the oil or applying them to the skin.
A study showed that inhalation of ginger essential oil in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy reduced acute nausea to a certain extent, but did not reduce vomiting or chronic nausea.
Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is a plant that contains compounds called cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are chemicals that affect the central nervous system and immune system.
Active cannabinoids, including delta-9-THC and cannabidiol (CBD), have been studied for pain, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, and loss of appetite caused by the side effects of cancer or cancer treatment.
Although the Food and Drug Administration has not approved the use of cannabis or cannabinoids for cancer treatment, emerging preclinical studies suggest that cannabinoids may slow the progression of breast cancer tumors, angiogenesis (blood vessel growth), and metastasis (spreading).
Medicinal mushrooms are mushrooms used as medicines to enhance immune function, slow down tumor growth, or kill tumor cells. More than 100 kinds of mushrooms are used to treat cancer. Many of them are approved for cancer treatment in China and Japan and have been used safely for many years alone or with conventional therapies.
The most common medicinal mushrooms are:
In a phase I clinical trial, a product made from turkey tail was proven to increase cancer resistance in the immune system of cancer patients after conventional treatment.
These CAM therapies are based on physical working parts of the body, such as massage, chiropractic and reflexology.
Massage therapy is widely studied in cancer care to reduce stress, anxiety, depression, cancer pain and fatigue. It is used by approximately 11.2% of breast cancer patients.
The systematic review of breast cancer massage therapy concluded that there are few rigorous clinical studies on its effectiveness in breast cancer treatment. However, it may help treat the symptoms of breast cancer, such as reducing the risk of depression and perceived stress.
The entire medical system is a belief system that has evolved over time in different cultures. These include Ayurvedic medicine, Chinese medicine (including acupuncture), homeopathy and natural remedies.
Acupuncture is a part of traditional Chinese medicine, where needles, heat, pressure, and other treatments are applied to the skin to control symptoms, including pain, nausea, and vomiting.
The National Institutes of Health in the United States began to study acupuncture for cancer patients and cancer treatment symptoms in 1997. There is strong evidence that acupuncture can be used to relieve nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.
A 2016 clinical trial showed that compared with patients who did not receive acupuncture treatment, patients with breast cancer had milder and less frequent nausea and vomiting.
Although CAM therapies are becoming more and more popular, it is important to recognize the limited clinical evidence that these alternative therapies are as effective as traditional therapies. In a 10-year study, when conventional treatments (such as surgery) were delayed or rejected, CAM treatment was shown to be associated with disease progression and increased risk of recurrence and death.
You may want to consider CAM treatment to help relieve stress and anxiety, or provide much-needed relief for symptoms related to breast cancer and treatment, but consult all your healthcare providers (including traditional and alternative) before starting any CAM treatment ) Is very important.
Some alternative therapies have limited clinical research and cannot prove that they are beneficial. In fact, some natural remedies may even interfere or cause greater harm when combined with standard treatments. Your healthcare provider can ensure that any CAM therapy is complementary to your treatment plan.
The most studied CAM therapies include mind-body therapy, biology-based practice, manipulation and body-based practice, and the entire medical system.
A 2018 study found that approximately 70% of women with the most common type of early breast cancer may not need chemotherapy after surgery. After five years of treatment, the survival rates of women who received chemotherapy and women who did not receive chemotherapy were very similar (98.1% and 98.0%, respectively).
Research on the potential benefits of CAM therapy is still very limited, but some studies indicate that certain therapies may help prevent or treat side effects.
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