There are some common side effects to chemo and radiation that can be treated naturally, generally without interfering with your conventional protocol. Our doctors hope that the following information will be useful to you. Please keep in mind that it is for informational purposes and is no substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. You should never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking medical treatment due to information obtained on cLarajean.org.

Anxiety: A diagnosis of cancer is one of the most anxiety-provoking events that can happen in someone’s life.  It is completely normal to feel anxious and fearful.  If you find you can’t sleep or begin to have anxiety attacks, see your doctor.  Some of the things below can help.

• Biofeedback: Learning how your body responds to stress and understanding the early signals can help you stop the process before it gets out of control.  Biofeedback teaches you specific tools that you can use to recognize not only how your body responds to stress but what you can do to manage it.
• Massage: Allowing your body to relax and receive touch can be calming, not just during the massage, but for days or weeks afterwards as well. Scheduling regular time to receive a nurturing treatment can be helpful for many.
• Acupuncture: This therapy can help to calm your system during treatment and benefits can last for days or weeks.
• Emotional Support: there are a variety of support groups around and they are often invaluable.  If you try a group and don’t feel like it works for you, don’t give up!  Every group is different so keep trying until you find one that works for you.
• Therapy or counseling: Finding a qualified practitioner that you resonate with can make a huge difference in one’s healing journey. Not only is a diagnosis anxiety producing for the patient, but friends and family members often aren’t sure of the best ways to be supportive due to their own anxieties. Having a safe therapeutic relationship can often ease the strain for people struggling with these dilemmas.