If there is a disease that strikes fear into any person, it is cancer. Progress has been made in determining factors that could lead to cancer. These include changes in cell structure, drinking alcohol, inherited genes, radiation exposure and smoking. Nonetheless, cancer remains somewhat of a mystery. That makes it difficult to treat effectively and explains why so many sufferers seek alternative treatments to chemotherapy and radiation.
Acupuncture
In acupuncture, thin needles of different lengths are inserted into key points of the body. Some include the use of electrical charges or sound waves to increase effectiveness. Both Chinese and Western medicine have witnessed its ability to relieve disease symptoms, but there is no current evidence to prove it works as an alternative treatment option.
Food Therapy
Some researchers, as well as cancer survivors, claim certain foods--primarily flour, meat and sugar--actually fuel cancer cell development. Based on that theory, the elimination of those foods could provide a treatment alternative. While this may abate cancer for some, there is more evidence that diet changes keeps cells healthy to preclude cancer.
Drug Therapy
Carboplatin and vincristine (CV) drug therapy, used in children between the ages of 5 and 10, has been successful 50 percent of the time. Another drug therapy--consisting of the drugs of lomustine, procarbazine, thioguanine, and vincristine--fares slightly better, at 55 percent in cases of cancerous brain tumors.
Hormone Therapy
Long-term use of the anti-estrogen drug Tamoxifen proves useful in keeping breast cancer from recurring in many women. It has also been used by physicians as an alternative treatment to metastatic breast cancer that contains large amounts of estrogen receptors. Unfortunately, after five years, the drug becomes ineffective, meaning the patient will have to find another treatment option.
Hypnotherapy
No current research has been able to prove hypnotherapy works as an alternative treatment option. It can; however, help patients deal with the disease by boosting the immune system and helping them deal with side effects and stress.
Insulin Potentiation Therapy
A new strategy being used to treat cancer is IPT. It uses low-dose chemicals to specifically target cancer cells while leaving healthy cells intact. That can also reduce or eliminate the side effects of the disease.
Seed Implementation
An effective alternative treatment for prostrate cancer inserts small radioactive seeds near the prostrate. Then low-grade radiation is introduced to kill surrounding cancer cells.
Vitamin Therapy
Megadoses of certain vitamins like A, B6, C and E have been useful in reducing cancerous bladder tumors in some patients. Many researchers; however, remain skeptical until additional studies are done. Others are concerned about the toxicity effect such large doses could have on the body.
Tags: alternative treatment, treatment option, alternative treatment option, breast cancer, cancer cells, deal with, side effects