Alternative Bladder Cancer Treatment: An Introduction
Some people use alternative
bladder cancer treatment to ease stress or to reduce side effects and symptoms of
bladder cancer. In most cases, people combine alternative treatments with the more standard treatment of bladder cancer (e.g., surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biological therapy).
Types of Alternative Treatment for Bladder Cancer
Alternative options for treating bladder cancer may involve:
- Acupuncture
- Massage therapy
- Herbal products
- Vitamins or special diets
- Visualization
- Meditation
- Spiritual healing.
Many people say that alternative treatments help them feel better; however, some types of alternative
bladder cancer treatment may interfere with standard treatment, and combining alternative treatment with standard treatment may even be harmful. It is important to note that some types of alternative treatments are expensive and health insurance may not cover the cost of alternative treatments for bladder cancer.
Alternative Treatment for Pain
Bladder cancer pain is a potential problem for people with the disease. Pain can be caused by a tumor that is pressing against nerves and other organs or pain can be caused by bladder cancer treatment. The patient's doctor or a specialist in pain control can relieve or reduce bladder cancer pain in several ways, which include:
- Pain medicine
- Radiation
- Nerve block.
The healthcare team may also suggest alternative pain treatment, such as massage, acupuncture, or acupressure. Relaxation techniques, such as listening to slow music or breathing slowly and comfortably, may also help to reduce pain in patients with bladder cancer.
(Click Bladder Cancer Pain for more information about how to treat pain that is associated with bladder cancer.)
