There are a million thoughts going through a person’s head when they are diagnosed with cancer. As people navigate the several paths of treatment, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and frustrated. Just as important as treating your physical health, is being sure to treat your mental and emotional health as well. Those who maintain a positive mindset, lowered stress, and a support system, can have better outcomes to conventional cancer treatment and help decrease the unpleasant side effects of treatment.
A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH
A multidisciplinary approach to cancer treatment combines conventional, integrative, and complementary therapies. This combined approach helps reduce side effects, strengthen immune function, and enhance overall well-being. It also incorporates strategies to reduce the risk of developing new cancers, as well as lowering the potential of cancer recurrence.
BEYOND CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT
Massage Therapy: helps to ease anxiety, boost energy levels, and enhance quality of sleep. It also helps lower pain associated with cancer treatment, as well as control nausea and vomiting.
Yoga Therapy: also improves sleep quality, as well as decrease the fatigue that often follows cancer treatments. Further, yoga can reduce anxiety and depression while improving overall quality of life for those newly diagnosed.
Acupuncture: has many of the same benefits as massage and yoga. It decreases chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting, brings higher quality sleep, and lowers pain and anxiety.
Integrative Nutrition: can address weight loss concerns while providing nutrient-dense whole foods meant to strengthen and support the body’s defenses. This way of eating can also include supplements, such as vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, that help correct any nutrient or digestive deficiencies.
Integrative Health Coaching: can provide accountability while staying engaged and in control of your own health. Coaching also helps you sort through health information in order to create a sustainable and realistic health plan. Such a plan enables lifestyle changes in the areas of life that matter to you.
Mindfulness Stress Reduction: combines meditation and yoga to help reduce stress and increase mind/body awareness. Practices also include cognitive-behavior therapy. Mindfulness techniques help reduce depression, anxiety, mood swings, and chronic pain in those with cancer, while strengthening their coping skills.
Conventional cancer treatment is often the best option for those with cancer, despite its negative side effects and wear on the body. Luckily there are complementary strategies that help ease the damaging effects of chemotherapy, while enhancing your immune system, emotional health, and overall well-being. At Healthy Connections, we provide many of these complementary strategies to our patients. Check out our array of services to see what best fits your needs!