One of the most notorious and feared diseases not only in the United States but in the whole world is cancer. It is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Over decades of extensive scientific studies, a wide variety of treatment options have been developed to resolve this deadly condition. But despite their availability these therapies have rarely been successful in helping manage the symptoms of cancer. However, acupuncture has been used as an alternative therapeutic option for this deadly condition with some degree of success.

The Nature of Cancer

An extremely serious disease, cancer is marked by irregular cell division and growth. It is diagnosed based on the kind of cell that initially affects the organ. There are now over 100 kinds of cancer that have been identified, with the most common being renal, non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, melanoma, leukemia, breast, bladder, lung, rectal, colon, and endometrial cancer.

Cancer becomes deadly when the abnormal cells start to divide uncontrollably and irregularly resulting in the development of tumors, lumps or masses of abnormal tissue. The development of these tumors adversely impacts the different functions of the organ systems of the body including the nervous, circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems.

The symptoms of cancer often differ and are based on where the cancer has developed. The most common symptoms include unexplained weight loss, excessive sweating, anemia, fever, and fatigue. The patient can experience vertigo, seizures, and headaches when cancer cells have entered the brain. When they have spread to the lung, coughing and shortness of breath may be experienced by the patient and when the liver is affected, the patient may suffer from painful, breakable, and brittle bones combined with jaundice.

Treatments for Cancer

Over the decades, hundreds of studies have been done to answer the question “what really causes cancer?” Studies have also been attempted to figure out how it develops and how it can be cured, or at least, prevented. Almost every cancer patient avails of cancer therapies and drugs in order to prolong their life. It has been shown that a more conducive and healthier lifestyle is essential in overpowering cancer.

Depending on the state of health of the patient, what kind of cancer he has and what stage his cancer is in, treatments will vary accordingly. These days the Western modes of treatment to fight this disease include immunotherapy, gene therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy.

Whilst most patients utilize the treatments Western medicine offers, there are some patients who try alternative modes of treatment to go along with their conventional therapies. Studies show that acupuncture can work to aid the cancer patient in improving his condition. It is in reality, a very popular alternative therapy for cancer. However, is there any validity to this claim?

Cancer Patients and Acupuncture

These days a growing number of doctors and oncologists suggest the use of acupuncture to their patients to help manage their symptoms as well as the side effects of their cancer therapies. Scientists have confirmed that acupuncture can help with the management of cancer symptoms including hot flashes, painful and dry throat and mouth, vomiting, nausea, and pain.

One of the most helpful benefits of acupuncture in Overland Park is its ability to relieve the inflammation, swelling, and pain caused by cancer and the very invasive therapies used to combat this illness. This means a significant reduction of the patient’s need to take painkillers. When the muscles and sensory neurons are activated, they communicate to the nervous system telling them to produce and release neurotransmitters known as endorphins to help kill the pain and discomfort.

People who have undergone chemotherapy know only too well the severe side effects to go with this procedure. Severe nausea and vomiting are typically the negative outcomes of chemotherapy. With acupuncture, the magnitude and frequency of nausea and vomiting and even the hot flashes that come with breast cancer can be lessened and relieved.

Mouth and throat that is painful and dry may also be experienced when people undergo cancer therapies because they tend to lower the body’s production of saliva. Research has shown that acupuncture assists in the reduction of the severity of these side effects which helps in the patient’s being able to drink, eat, and swallow normally. Acupuncture is also able to address depression, fatigue, anxiety, appetite loss, cough, loss of weight, dizziness, bone pain, chest pain and other symptoms related to cancer.

This treatment reduces the frequency and intensity of these symptoms and is able to benefit cancer patients by helping them get quality and sufficient amounts of sleep as well help them enjoy a higher quality of life, as well.

Feedback from Cancer Patients Who Have Tried Acupuncture

No study or anecdotal evidence has been shown to prove acupuncture’s ability to cure cancer. Acupuncture is used to help alleviate the symptoms of this fearful condition.

Most of the time, acupuncture aids cancer patients by alleviating nausea which is usually the result of chemotherapy. Besides lowering the intensity and occurrence of hot flashes, this versatile treatment also helps make the person feel relaxed and improves his general well-being.