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Alternative medicine
By Mayo Clinic staffNo alternative medicine treatments have been found to cure breast cancer. But complementary and alternative medicine therapies may help you cope with side effects of treatment when combined with your doctor's care.
Alternative medicine for fatigue
Many breast cancer survivors experience fatigue during and after treatment that can continue for years. Doctors aren't sure what causes cancer-related fatigue and it can persist despite treatment. When combined with your doctor's care, complementary and alternative medicine therapies may help relieve fatigue. Ask your doctor about:
- Gentle exercise. If you get the OK from your doctor, start with gentle exercise a few times a week and work your way up to more if you feel up to it. Consider walking, swimming, yoga or tai chi.
- Managing stress. Take control of the stress in your daily life. Try stress reduction techniques such as muscle relaxation, visualization and spending time with friends and family.
- Relaxation strategies. Balance activity with periods of relaxation. Try listening to music, writing in a journal, meditating or taking a warm bath.
- Cancer facts & figures 2008. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/downloads/STT/2008CAFFfinalsecured.pdf. Accessed April 15, 2009.
- What you need to know about breast cancer. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/breast/allpages/print. Accessed March 30, 2009.
- Abeloff MD, et al. Cancer of the breast. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008:1875.
- Breast cancer. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/breast.pdf. Accessed March 30, 2009.
- Breast cancer prevention (PDQ): Patient version. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/breast/patient/allpages/print. Accessed March 30, 2009.
- Questions to ask yourself and your doctor. Breast Cancer Network of Strength. http://www.networkofstrength.org/support/selfcare/questions.php. Accessed April 1, 2009.
- Hulvat MC, et al. Multidisciplinary care of patients with breast cancer. Surgical Clinics of North America. 2009;89:133.
- Avastin (prescribing information). San Francisco, Calif: Genentech; 2008. http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2008/125085s145lbl.pdf. Accessed April 15, 2009.
- Tykerb (prescribing information). Research Triangle Park, N.C.: GlaxoSmithKline; 2007. http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2008/022059s004lbl.pdf. Accessed April 15, 2009.
- Found 1084 studies with search of: breast cancer | Open studies | Interventional studies. ClinicalTrials.gov. http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=breast+cancer&recr=Open&rslt=&type=Intr&cond=&intr=&outc=&lead=&spons=&id=&state1=&cntry1=&state2=&cntry2=&state3=&cntry3=&locn=&rcv_s=&rcv_e=&lup_s=&lup_e=. Accessed April 15, 2009.
- Gnant M, et al. Endocrine therapy plus zoledronic acid in premenopausal breast cancer. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2009;360:679.
- Bardwell WA, et al. Breast cancer and fatigue. Sleep Medicine Clinics. 2008;3:61.
- Cancer-related fatigue. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/fatigue.pdf. Accessed April 15, 2009.
- Breast cancer. Cancer.Net. http://www.cancer.net/patient/Cancer+Types/Breast+Cancer. Accessed April 15, 2009.
