Of the people who we spoke to that DID use complementary therapies during treatment, the most common strategies used are summarised in the table below. Please note that Finding My Way neither endorses nor rejects complementary therapy use, rather it aims to enable people to make their own informed choices. Thus this information has been provided in order for patients and families to make their own decisions about whether or not to seek complementary therapies.
| Diet-based strategies | Body-Based strategies | Mind-Based strategies |
|---|---|---|
| Juicing | Low impact exercise | Relaxation / Visualisation |
| Organic Food | (e.g. yoga, walking) | Meditation |
| Multi-vitamins | Resistance training | Music Therapy |
| Evening-Primrose Oil | Acupuncture | Art Therapy |
| Seeing a naturopath | Many people were interested in having a massage but were worried about whether they should during their chemotherapy or radiotherapy – its best to check with your oncologist about this. |
Therapeutic writing |
| – taking supplements | ||
| (it is advisable to check with your oncologist about possible interactions with chemotherapy) |
„Continuing to Work” as therapy |
The main thing to note is that there is no right or wrong decision regarding complementary therapies. Plenty of people choose to use them, but plenty also choose not to, or choose to stop once they’ve tried something. It’s about making a decision that fits YOUR needs and lifestyle, and does not directly conflict with medical contra-indications.
So you may want to get some more information on these options, if any of them appeal to you. A few important questions to ask yourself, and others, about complementary therapies are:
- Will this affect my medical treatment (e.g., the time and money required to cover the CTs, and any medical interactions)?
- How much will this cost and can I afford this?
- Will using this strategy fit in with my routine and time-constraints?
- Do I think using these strategies will help me?
- Do I think these strategies are important to explore?
- Do these strategies fit with the way I want to live my life during treatment?
You may want to discuss these questions, and any other questions about your general treatment, with your treatment team[1]. The „Getting Your Questions Answered” worksheet (click to the next page) can help you form your questions and has some tips on getting them answered.
