Cancer treatment can result in long-term side effects, such as pain, stress, and insomnia. Mind-body therapies, such as acupuncture and meditation, are increasingly being used to manage these symptoms and improve the quality of life for cancer survivors.
Cancer treatment can result in long-term side effects, such as pain, stress, and insomnia. Mind-body therapies, such as acupuncture and meditation, are increasingly being used to manage these symptoms and improve the quality of life for cancer survivors. Acupuncture has been found to be effective in reducing chronic pain related to cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. A 2021 study also found that two types of acupuncture, electroacupuncture and auricular acupuncture, helped to reduce chronic pain in cancer survivors.
Meditation, specifically mindfulness-based stress reduction, has been found to be helpful in reducing stress and improving mood states, coping self-efficacy, cortisol levels, heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure. Additionally, meditation has been shown to be effective in treating sleep disturbances, which is the most common complaint among cancer survivors. These mind-body therapies can be beneficial for cancer survivors in managing their symptoms and improving their quality of life.
Functional medicine is a growing field that also can be helpful in the cancer journey. FM aims to identify and treat the root cause of diseases rather than just treating the symptoms. The goal is to restore optimal function to the body's systems through a personalized approach that takes into account each individual's unique genetic makeup, environment, and lifestyle factors.
Functional medicine practitioners use a comprehensive approach to evaluate the patient's health, including a thorough medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests, and other diagnostic tools. This allows them to create a personalized treatment plan that addresses the underlying imbalances and dysfunctions that are contributing to the patient's symptoms.
One of the key principles of functional medicine is to focus on promoting health and preventing disease rather than just managing symptoms. This means identifying and addressing risk factors before they become full-blown illnesses, and educating patients on healthy lifestyle habits that can support optimal function and prevent chronic disease.
Functional medicine also recognizes the interconnectedness of the body's systems, and seeks to identify and treat imbalances in one system that may be affecting other systems. For example, a digestive issue may be contributing to a patient's chronic headaches, or a hormonal imbalance may be affecting their mood and energy levels.
In addition to traditional medical interventions, functional medicine practitioners often incorporate complementary therapies such as acupuncture, nutrition, herbal medicine, and mind-body practices like meditation and yoga. These therapies are used to support the body's natural healing processes and promote overall wellness.
Along the journey of a cancer diagnosis and treatment, there is often a great deal that people can do to affect the outcome of their treatment, reduce side-effects and to improve quality of life.