In recent years, there has been an interest in exploring alternative treatments that are best used in adjunct with traditional treatments for breast cancer, not in replacement of traditional treatments.
When you or a loved one are diagnosed with breast cancer, the thought can be terrifying. In my experience, the first “c-word” people fear is the word cancer. But once the diagnosis has been made, and before they are told about treatment options, the next “c-word” people fear is chemotherapy. Fortunately, not all breast cancer patients require chemotherapy as part of their treatment. The treatment of breast cancer is often with multiple modalities including surgery, radiation, and possibly chemotherapy, endocrine therapy and/or immunotherapy. Alternative therapies are best used in addition to these options, not in replacement.
If you have read this far, you are likely interested in an aggressive approach to treating breast cancer and realize that conventional treatments alone may not be the only answer for you.
What exactly is cancer?
Cancer cells are always being created in the body. The body has multiple defense mechanisms to stop the progress of these cancer cells dividing at the DNA level, as well as using the immune system to seek out and destroy these cancer cells.
Cancer is not a mysterious disease that suddenly attacks you out of the blue. It develops out of a chain of events that occur at the cellular level and by the time it is diagnosed, has been present for typically several years.
Cancer has been occurring as long as time and previously may not have been recognized as “cancer” for a number of reasons. It was very likely advanced when symptoms occurred, and people would just die of the aggressive disease process. Also, people did not live as long as they do now, and it is very likely that people would die of other causes before cancer could develop or before cancer took their lives. Finally, imaging and diagnostic techniques were very rudimentary prior to the 20th century and cancers were not often diagnosed until they were glaringly obvious.
For these reasons, it appears that only in the second half of the 20th century did the number of cancer cases diagnosed skyrocket. Some also believe that another contributing factor to this are the use of toxins, pollutants, and chemicals we are exposed to, high-stress lifestyles, lack of sleep, poor quality food, pesticides, foods that are irradiated and now genetically modified, pathogens. The thought is that all of these weaken the immune system and the body’s other naturally-occurring cancer-fighting mechanisms, promoting the growth of cancer cells.
Cancer cells begin as normal cells that develop mutations, or DNA changes, allowing them to escape the mechanisms that typically destroy them. Certain chemicals, pesticides, certain types of radiation and other toxins can cause these changes in DNA, or generate free radicals that damage DNA, promoting certain kinds of cancer.
Surviving cancer involves treating the known disease and eliminating the causes as best as possible. The exact cause may not be known, however, in many cases.
The best thing you can do during treatment is to eat high-protein but balanced meals, walk or exercise, get enough sleep and try to keep life as normal as possible. After treatment, try to continue your healthy lifestyle and make those changes permanent. Some of the alternative treatments to use in addition to conventional treatments are listed below.
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Deep breathing exercises
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Increase powerful antioxidants in your diet
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Reduce stress
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Get plenty of rest and sleep