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What are Alternative Treatments?

You might be wondering, what are alternative treatments? That sounds kind of vague. Well, that is a good question… and yes, that term is vague! Alternative treatments when dealing with…

You might be wondering, what are alternative treatments? That sounds kind of vague. Well, that is a good question… and yes, that term is vague!

Alternative treatments when dealing with cancer relate to anything that is outside the conventional treatment plan. When you visit an oncologist (cancer doctor) about a possible cancer found in you, they have certain protocols that will shape their treatment plan. These protocols are based on the type of cancer you have and at what stage it is currently at. They may first require more testing, which could include things like CT scans, MRI scans, bloodwork, and biopsies.  Once they have collected their information, they will then tell you what they believe to be the best course of action for your particular condition. Often, this will include chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and possibly surgery. All of these things are considered FDA-approved and are generally covered under most insurance plans.

But wait! What if you don’t like that plan and want to try more “natural” alternatives? Yes, that is also possible, though most doctors will tell you that they cannot recommend it. In my experience, they generally tell me that they cannot approve of most alternative treatments because there have not been enough FDA-approved studies to determine if they are truly beneficial. Trouble is… those studies are not being done because it is not cost-efficient for researchers (and Big Pharma)  to do them. You may find doctors who will give you a hard time about trying alternative treatments and others, like mine, who might say, “I can’t approve it, but it is not a deal breaker for me. I understand that you want to try all that you can.”

So, what are alternative treatments?  There are actually several. Some I have tried, and others I have not tried yet. Then there are those I have yet to discover! I will definitely blog about them when I find them!

Let me start with what I have tried.

What I have not tried (but would like to try):

  1. Red-light therapy
  2. Grounding sheet
  3. Hyperbaric chamber
  4. Detox protocols
  5. Acupuncture

And I am still searching for more ideas!