Most people equate cancer treatments with chemotherapy and radiation, but apart from these common treatments for cancer, there are other treatment options available. Alternative or complementary therapy is one of the common cancer treatments that people opt for nowadays. Some of these therapies can help to reduce the post-chemotherapy and radiation side effects, while others claim to help cure cancer.

The common cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation cause severe side effects. Many people find it very difficult to cope with the side effects and hence prefer alternative therapies that have lesser side effects.

Some people believe in alternative therapies and hence prefer to try them out. Others would have tried conventional methods and are not happy with the results and hence prefer alternative therapies.

Complementary therapy is possible where conventional therapies and alternative therapies can be administered together. This can help ensure a holistic approach to cancer treatment.

1. Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a Chinese treatment system where needles are inserted into precise points to provide health benefits. Many people experience relief from the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation through acupuncture. It can be an effective technique to relieve pain.

2. Hypnosis
Hypnosis involves a session with a trained hypnotherapist, who tries to make the patient relaxed. The patient is put into a mental state where he would be receptive to what the hypnotherapist says. The therapist would help the patient focus and try to forget the pain and other side effects of cancer treatment.

Hypnosis is useful in planting suggestions in the mind of the patient that could help them develop a positive attitude toward common cancer treatments.

3. Yoga
Yoga is an ancient Indian system of physical exercise and can be used to relieve mental stress. Yoga helps in reducing stress and makes a person relaxed. It can be very helpful in reducing the pain and side effects of conventional treatments.

It can make the entire body relaxed. It can reduce the anxiety that is common in cancer patients.

4. Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy involves the use of aromatic oils to help the patient relax. The oils can be used for a massage or can be added to a hot bath. Aromatherapy helps relax the body, de-stressing, and getting relief from symptoms like body pain.

5. Herbal medicine
This alternative therapy uses medicines that are made from plants. These medicines are believed to have fewer side effects. Traditional Chinese medicine and ancient Indian Ayurveda medicines use herbs for treatment.

While there are claims of people being cured by herbal medicine, there are no clinical studies to support these claims. Caution should be exercised while undergoing such therapies.

6. Diet
A balanced diet can be very helpful in the treatment of cancer. Some people suggest giving up sugar can help in killing cancerous cells. A diet that has more fresh fruits and vegetables, Vitamin C, turmeric, and avoids the use of fatty foods and junk foods is beneficial for health in general.

Alternative therapies are one of the common cancer treatments and are preferred by many because of fewer side effects. These are not clinically proven but people claim that these have been effective. These can be tried along with conventional therapy.