Breast Cancer Alternative Treatment

Many women explore breast cancer alternative treatment as a way to supplement their medical treatment. These methods of breast cancer alternative treatment may be expensive, and they may not be covered by your health insurance. Discuss any breast cancer alternative treatment with your doctor to find out if it could have a negative effect on your medical treatment.

 

Breast Cancer Alternative Treatment: An Overview

In addition to medical treatment, some cancer patients want to try breast cancer alternative treatment to ease stress or to reduce side effects and symptoms. Some patients feel that these breast cancer alternative treatments offer some benefit.
 
Before you try any of these alternative treatments, you should discuss their possible value and side effects with your medical doctors. You should let them know if you are using any such breast cancer alternative treatment. These alternative treatments for breast cancer should never be used instead of medical treatment. Be aware that these therapies may be expensive; some are not paid for by health insurance. You should consider asking the therapist for evidence of how the therapy has helped others, possibly by giving you references.
 

Types of Breast Cancer Alternative Treatment

Some types of breast cancer alternative treatment include:
 
  • Acupuncture
  • Massage therapy
  • Herbal products
  • Vitamins or special diets
  • Nutritional supplements
  • Visualization
  • Meditation
  • Spiritual healing
  • Yoga
  • Biofeedback.
 

Alternative Breast Cancer Treatment Recommendations

Before trying any type of alternative breast cancer treatment, you should discuss its possible benefits and harmful effects with your doctor.
 
You may want to ask your doctor these breast cancer alternative treatment questions:
 
  • What benefits can I expect from this approach?
  • What are its risks?
  • Do the expected benefits outweigh the risks?
  • What side effects should I watch for?
  • Will this alternative treatment change the way my breast cancer treatment works? Could this be harmful?
  • Is this approach under study in a clinical trial? If so, who sponsors the trial?
  • Will my health insurance pay for this approach?
     
     
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD