Alternative, complementary or integrative therapies may help to improve
quality of life for cancer patients when used along with conventional cancer
care. If you have cancer, you may choose alternative therapies to:
- Help
cope with the side effects of cancer treatments, such as nausea, pain and
fatigue
- Comfort
yourself and ease the worries of cancer treatment and related stress
- Feel
that you are doing something more to help with your own care
Common alternative therapies include acupuncture,
hypnotherapy, massage therapy, nutritional supplements and Reiki. One of our
radiation oncologists, John F. Sacco, MD, also practices medical acupuncture at the Alliance
Institute for Integrative Medicine in Cincinnati.
Please talk with your Oncology Hematology Care
physician if you want to learn more about how alternative therapies might help
you. If you’re already using alternative therapies, please be sure to discuss
them with your doctor so he or she is aware of all your treatments.