Complementary Therapies

This section aims to give basic information and contacts that may enable you to be more knowledgeable about the use of complementary therapies.

Complementary therapies are treatments or practices, which are used in conjunction with conventional mainstream Western medicine, to support overall care. Complementary therapies could be used at all stages of coping with a brain tumour, i.e. at diagnosis, during and after medical treatment or to assist in the control of symptoms. Supporting mainstream conventional medical treatments, complementary therapies may improve your quality of life, feelings of well-being and generally cope with the experience of having a brain tumour.
However, in general, the use of complementary therapies in those with brain tumours has not been researched or proven in any scientific way. Claims regarding effectiveness are merely via word of mouth and thus anecdotal. Therefore, whether you should use a particular complementary therapy or not is entirely up to you and should always be an individual decision.

As an individual with a brain tumour, you need to assess whether or not a complementary therapy is useful or not in your overall care. It is advisable to consult with your doctor, if you intend using complementary therapy so any physical changes can then be monitored. Consulting with your doctor does not mean asking his or her permission to use complementary therapies but is merely informing them of your actions, when they are monitoring your overall care and treatment. Using a complementary therapy, which has not been scientifically tested or medically proven in treating brain tumours, could potentially be just as harmful as it could be useful. Side effects and complications need to be monitored so medical diagnosis or effective treatment are not prevented or hindered. It is not accepted that any complementary therapy will reverse the process of a brain tumour or alter the chance of recurrence.

The range of complementary therapies is varied and you are advised to make enquires to the organisations listed here. When choosing a complementary therapist or organisation, make sure they are affiliated to a recognised organisation and have recognised qualifications. Those offering complementary therapies should be assisting you in maintaining good health and are willing to work in collaboration with your conventional medical treatment.

Hammer Out does not endorse, promote or recommend any particular complementary therapy for those with brain tumours.

Examples of complementary therapies are:

Complementary refers to supportive methods that are used to complement, or add to, mainstream treatments. Complementary methods are not given to cure disease, rather they may help control symptoms and improve well-being.

Aromatherapy
Reflexology
Acupuncture
Art therapy
Biofeedback
Massage therapy
Hypnotherapy
Counselling
Meditation
Music therapy
Prayer, spiritual practices
T’ai chi
Yoga

But if you are thinking about using any complementary therapy, look first at the questions below.

Questions to Ask About Complementary Therapies

  • What claims are made for the treatment: Is it to cure your brain tumour, or to enable the evidence-based treatment to work better or to relieve your symptoms or side effects?
  • What are the credentials of those supporting the treatment? Are they registered experts in cancer treatment? Have they published their findings?
  • How is the method promoted? Is it promoted only in books, Internet, magazines or TV, rather than in scientific journals?
  • What are the costs of the therapy?

Signs of Complementary Therapies to Avoid

Use the checklist below to spot those approaches that might be open to question. If the answer is yes to any one question below, talk to your doctor or nurse before moving ahead.

  • Is the treatment based on an unproven theory?
  • Does the treatment promise a cure for all cancers?
  • Are you told not to use conventional medical treatment?
  • Is the therapy a "secret" that only certain providers can give?
  • Do you have to travel outside the UK to get access to this complementary therapy?
  • Does the promoter attack medical treatment for brain tumours?

Complementary Therapies : Organisations

CancerBackup
3 Bath Place
Rivington Street
London
EC2A 3JR
United Kingdom
Tel : 020 7696 9003 or 0808 800 1234

Bristol Cancer Help Centre
Grove House
Cornwallis Grove
Bristol BS8 4PG
National Telephone Helpline 0845 123 23 10
For emotional support, and information on finding complementary therapists and services in your area, and information on the Bristol Approach. Available 9.30am - 5.00pm weekdays.
Email: info@bristolcancerhelp.org

British Holistic Medical Association (BHMA)
59 Lansdowne Place
Hove, East Sussex
BN3 1FL
Tel : 01273 725951
Email : admin@bhma.org

Institute For Complementary Medicine
PO Box 194, London
SE16 7QZ
Tel : 020 7237 5165
Email : icm@icmedicine.co.uk
Information on local complementary practitioners can be sent on receipt of a S.A.E and 3 x 1st class stamps.