Complementary Cancer Therapies - Frequently Asked Questions

1.	Will I be cured with complementary therapies?
2.	Do I have to tell my consultant I am having complementary therapies?
3.	How do I know which is the best therapy for me?
4.	How do I choose a therapist?
5.	Do I have to take my clothes off?
6.	Do I have to lie down?
7.	Do complementary therapies hurt?
8.	Do I have to pay for complementary therapies?
9.	Can I have therapy at home?
10.	Is acupuncture a safe treatment to have with a cancer diagnosis?
11.	Does massage encourage cancer cells to multiply?
12.	Are all aromatherapy oils safe for cancer patients?
13.	Are there side effects to complementary therapies?
14.	Are nutritional supplements safe?
15.	Are there specific programmes of nutritional supplements for cancer patients?
16.	What is Essiac Tea?
17.	What foods should be avoided by cancer patients?
18.	What foods are most beneficial?
19.	If nutrition is so important for my health and potential recovery, why do my doctor and oncologist not give me advice about my diet and supplements?
20.	Can a positive mind make any difference?
21.	How do we know homeopathy works?
22.	Can homeopathy be used to treat serious diseases such as cancer?

1.	Will I be cured with complementary therapies? No complementary therapist should claim to offer a cure. However, complementary therapies work on the whole body and mind, can improve your well being and help you to feel better. This can in turn can aid your immune system and help any orthodox medical treatments to be more effective.
2.	Do I have to tell my consultant I am having complementary therapies? It is always advisable to do so. Doctors are the experts in medicine and surgery but generally are not trained in complementary therapies and nutrition. Therefore most medical practitioners do not have an in depth understanding of complementary therapies so may be unable to offer any opinion of their value. Most do not object to you using them.
3.	How do I know which is the best therapy for me? Read our Therapy Descriptions pages and see which ones you are interested in. Many of our therapists offer several different therapies and they will be able to advise you on the most appropriate one for you.
4.	How do I choose a therapist? Read through the Descriptions of Therapies pages and decide which treatment you would like to try. Look up the therapists who offer this treatment on the Local Therapists page and choose one convenient for you.
5.	Do I have to take my clothes off? Most complementary treatments do not require you to remove your clothes but you may be asked to take off any jewellery and your shoes. Massage therapy is likely to need you to remove some of your clothes but be assured that every practitioner will treat you with respect and discretion. You do not have to take your clothes off for healing.
6.	Do I have to lie down? It is easier to receive some treatments while lying down but many treatments can be adapted for those who find this difficult.
7.	Do complementary therapies hurt? Most complementary therapies are not uncomfortable to have and will leave you with a feeling of relaxation and wellbeing. Ask your therapist for reassurance before the session.
8.	Do I have to pay for complementary therapies? Currently yes. Check charges when you book as they do vary, usually between £20 and £40 per hour session. Some healers do not charge a fee but ask for a donation if you wish to give one.
9.	Can I have therapy at home? Some therapists are willing to offer this service but expect to pay mileage expenses as well as the cost of the treatment.
10.	Is acupuncture a safe treatment to have with a cancer diagnosis? In general, acupuncture is safe when done by a certified acupuncturist. Complications or adverse events may rarely occur. If the acupuncturist uses non sterilized needles, there is a risk of infection; however, most acupuncturists today dispose of their needles after one use. Make sure the practitioner you visit uses sterilized or disposable needles. Talk with your doctor if you have other questions about the safety of acupuncture. Acupuncture may be a valuable treatment for certain health conditions and merits further use and study. Your doctor may recommend it along with conventional medical treatment for many illnesses.
11.	Does massage encourage cancer cells to multiply? There is no evidence to suggest that touch or gentle massage causes metastasis, but there is proof that it greatly benefits cancer patients, both physically and emotionally. The data has shown light massage to positively affect symptoms related to cancer or side effects from treatment regimes. Patients report an increased sense of well-being, with reduction in anxiety and the sense of isolation, as well as increased relaxation and decreased muscle tension. With care,caution and a soft touch an experienced therapist can adapt massage to insure that it is beneficial to people with cancer.’ Taken from ‘Medicine Hands’ ISBN 1-899171-77-0
12.	Are all aromatherapy oils safe for cancer patients? Always make sure to consult a professional aromatherapist as some oils may be contra-indicated in certain conditions e.g. patients who may suffer from fits or seizures should not receive any of the stimulant oils and breast cancer patients should not use geranium oil if their cancer is hormone receptor positive.
13.	Are there side effects to complementary therapies? When carried out by qualified, experienced practitioners, most therapies have only beneficial effects. Your therapist will tell you if there may be any short term side effects before the benefits are felt.
14.	Are nutritional supplements safe? The most sensible thing to do if you are considering using supplements is to consult a nutrition adviser who can advise on what would be beneficial to you as an individual. Nutritional supplements (herbs, vitamins and minerals) are food supplements that are taken from foods and so generally speaking they are as safe to take as food is to eat. However it is better to consult a nutrition adviser for the following reasons: Every one has individual requirements, even with the same symptoms. There are instances where supplements are not beneficial - for example it is not beneficial to take certain supplements whilst having chemotherapy and a nutrition adviser would know this and be able to advise the correct supplements. It is very beneficial to take supplements after chemotherapy to boost the immune system. You will get better value from your supplements if you have a programme tailor made for you. The nutrition adviser will know which brands of products are the best quality and manufactured to pharmaceutical standards and therefore which will be most beneficial to you. Overall, experts consider nutritional supplements to be safe, especially if you take advice, as a nutrition adviser will know of any likely contra-indications. It is advisable to tell your doctor if you are using a nutritional supplement or if you are thinking about combining a nutritional supplement with your conventional medical treatment. It may not be safe to forgo your conventional medical treatment and rely only on a nutritional supplement. High quality supplements taken as advised are unlikely to cause problems. However, nutritional supplements are not standardized in their manufacturing. Because of this, how effective they are may differ among brands. The form you buy in health food or grocery stores may not be the same as the form used in research and may not always be of the highest quality. Be sure to choose organic supplements manufactured to at least pharmaceutical standards. Check products for artificial sweeteners (aspartame) and sugar, both of which should be avoided.
15.	Are there specific programmes of nutritional supplements for cancer patients? Yes. There is a specific Cancer programme of high quality supplements (pure & manufactured to above organic and pharmaceutical standards). Several of our therapists can advise on these products or see Useful Links page www.thecancerprogramme.co.uk. These products are guaranteed for safety, purity and potency. The Penny Brohn Cancer Centre in Bristol also offers advice on supplements (see Useful Links www.pennybrohncancercare.org)
16.	What is Essiac Tea? Essiac is a unique combination of herbal formulae developed in Canada in the 1920s by Nurse Rene Caisse and used as a comprehensive therapy for cancer and other conditions. It is easy to make, easy to take and can be used alongside conventional and complementary cancer treatments. For more information see maliklein.co.uk and cloudstrust.org on our Related Links page.
17.	What foods should be avoided by cancer patients? Red meat – e.g. pork, beef or lamb Dairy products – milk, cheese, cream, yoghurt (non-dairy alternatives such as soya are available) Smoked and salt cured foods Barbequed, chargrilled or burnt foods Refined sugars – avoid all sugary foods and use fruit to add sweetness to the diet. Honey, molasses or maple and fruit syrups can be used occasionally if necessary Artificial sweetners Processed foods including pre-prepared meals and convenience foods Caffeine Alcohol Table salt – used small amounts of tamari sauce or unrefined rock or sea salt instead Hydrogenated or trans fats – found in many convenience foods, fried snacks and margarines.
18.	What foods are most beneficial? Organic food whenever possible Fruit and vegetables, preferably local and in season, raw or lightly steamed Whole grains such as quinoa,millet, barley, buckwheat, amaranth, rye, wheat, rye, oats Pulses – include a variety of cooked and sprouted beans, peas & lentils Healthy fats – nuts, seeds and oily fish are good sources of the essential fatty acids. Juices – mainly vegetables with a little fruit to sweeten Green tea and herb teas Water – drink as much as you can of fresh, filtered, spring or mineral water as you can – ideally 1.5 to 2 litres per day. Eat in moderation Organic, free range chicken and turkey Occasional organic lamb Free range eggs (Diet advice taken from The Bristol Approach to Healthy Eating)
19.	If nutrition is so important for my health and potential recovery, why do my doctor and oncologist not give me advice about my diet and supplements? Our doctors and oncologists have very specialised training in medicine and surgery but are generally not trained in nutrition, so you need to see a nutrition adviser for this advice. This is an extract from the journal of Nutritional Medicine ‘Nutrition and life-style Guidelines for People with Cancer’ by S Goodman PhD, J MacLaren Howard PhD and W Barker PhD. “With research documenting evidence of a significant dietary link to many cancers, there is a general consensus about the limitations of medical education regarding the crucial role played by good nutrition in building robust health, or by poor nutrition in contributing to the development of cancers and other illnesses. These limitations have lead to an ignorance among many in the medical profession, and among many oncologists in particular, of the crucial significance of nutritional factors in both the cause of the illness and of the therapeutic benefits. It is felt that there is an urgent need for nutritional research information to be better incorporated into mainstream medical practice and medical training.”
20.	Can a positive mind make any difference? Our minds operate our brains and our brains operate every cell, organ, system and chemical reaction in our bodies. For example, if you close your eyes and think and visualise a situation where you are drinking a glass of freshly squeezed lemon juice, your brain will instruct you body to make a chemical called salivary amylase. This shows that what we think has a direct action on our physical bodies. So to think and visualise our bodies in excellent health will cause our brains to do whatever it needs to, to bring our bodies back to excellent health. “Healing is not just something done to us, but something that we participate in, through our thoughts, beliefs, feelings and attitudes towards life. Our response to medical treatment is influenced by our beliefs about the effectiveness of the treatment and by the confidence we have in the medical team” It is our central premise that an illness is not just a physical problem but rather a problem of the whole person that includes not only the body, but mind and emotions. We believe that emotional and mental states play a significant role in both susceptibility to disease including cancer and in recovery from all disease.” (extract from “Getting Well Again” by Carl Simonton, M.D. ISBN 0-553-28033-3) There have been experiments which prove that DNA can heal itself according to the feelings of the individuals. In these experiments (By the Institute of Heart Math), DNA was shown to change shape according to feelings. When the researchers felt anger, fear, frustration or stress the DNA responded by tightening up and switched off many of our DNA codes. This was reversed when the researchers felt gratitude, love and appreciation, the DNA responded by relaxing and the strands unwound and the DNA became longer. So a positive mind will always make a difference. Stay in feelings of joy, love, gratitude and appreciation!
21.	How do we know homeopathy works? There have been some important trials done in Glasgow which demonstrate that homeopathy is not simply a placebo. The experience of many homeopaths over the past 200 years is that we achieve much higher success rates than can be attributed to placebo alone. Homeopathy has been demonstrated to work on animals and as we are frequently asked to treat babies and small children, we are convinced it is not just a placebo.
22.	Can homeopathy be used to treat serious diseases such as cancer? There has been little research in this area to date, and let’s be honest, most people with life threatening diseases see medical specialists first. In countries such as India, cancers are effectively treated by homeopathy – in this country we would be unlikely to be given this opportunity. However, it is important to realise that homeopathy is a complementary medicine and is frequently used alongside conventional treatments in such cases. Homeopathy can reduce the side effects of cancer treatments and makes a valuable contribution to the care of cancer patients.

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