Our lungs are located in the chest and their function is to bring oxygen to cells and tissues in the body. At the same time, the lungs take carbon dioxide made in the body and release it during every exhalation we make.
Every cancer that starts in human lungs is known as lung cancer. According to the statistic data, lung cancer is the leading cause of all cancer deaths among Americans, regardless the gender. Both men and women are similarly likely to get this type of cancer. The tumor causes more deaths than several other cancer rates combined together. Smoking is found to a contributing factor for development of this cancer, so smokers are considered to be the high risk group for this serious medical problem. Quitting smoking is, therefore, the most efficient way to lower the risk, even if you have been smoking for years. Reject nicotine and you will instantly have less chance to develop lung cancer.
Do Alternative Therapies Work for Lung Cancer?
Many cancer patients, especially those faced with the diagnosis of incurable disease, will try to find some way to fight their disease. Complementary and alternative therapies might be methods they want to use, but these cannot completely cure this illness. Current medical practice and researchers have found that lung cancer is not curable by alternative approaches. However, these therapies will often be of additional help, relieving symptoms and signs associated with the disease.
Make sure to consult your doctor about any alternative or complementary therapy you want to use. He or she will be able to help you with some useful information and their medical knowledge about this subject. This way, every patient will know what he/she is going into and what to expect.
Types of Alternative Treatments for Lung Cancer
Some therapies are considered helpful for patients suffering from lung cancer. The American College of Chest Physicians recommends acupuncture, massages, meditation, yoga and hypnosis for people suffering from the disease, claiming that these methods may show some improvement in management of lung cancer symptoms.
Acupuncture is traditional Chinese method, where the trained practitioner places small needles into specific spots on the human body. This method is found to be particularly beneficial for pain relief, but it can also help people dealing with unpleasant effects of the conventional cancer therapy, such as dry mouth, nausea or vomiting. Massage is able to relieve pain, anxiety and distress many cancer patients have trouble with. Meditation, yoga and hypnosis are great for deep breathing and relaxation, improving the quality of life of patients suffering from lung cancer.
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