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Alternative medicine
By Mayo Clinic staffNo complementary or alternative treatments have been found to cure colon cancer.
Alternative treatments may help you cope with a diagnosis of colon cancer. Nearly all people with cancer experience some distress. Common signs and symptoms of distress after your diagnosis might include sadness, anger, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping and loss of appetite. Alternative treatments may help redirect your thoughts away from your fears, at least temporarily, to give you some relief.
Alternative treatments that may help relieve distress include:
- Art therapy
- Dance or movement therapy
- Exercise
- Meditation
- Music therapy
- Relaxation exercises
Your doctor can refer you to professionals who can help you learn about and try these alternative treatments. Tell your doctor if you're experiencing distress.
- Compton C, et al. Colon cancer. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008:1477.
- What you need to know about cancer of the colon and rectum. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/colon-and-rectal/allpages/print. Accessed July 2, 2009.
- Colon cancer. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/colon.pdf. Accessed July 2, 2009.
- Cappell MS. Pathophysiology, clinical presentation and management of colon cancer. Gastroenterology Clinics of North America. 2008;37:1.
- Wilkes G, et al. Colon, rectal and anal cancers. Seminars in Oncology Nursing. 2009:25:32.
- Distress management. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/distress.pdf. Accessed July 7, 2009.
- Levin B, et al. Screening and surveillance for the early detection of colorectal cancer and adenomatous polyps, 2008: A joint guideline from the American Cancer Society, the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, and the American College of Radiology. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 2008;58:1.
- Colon cancer screening (Colorectal). Medicare.gov. http://www.medicare.gov/health/coloncancer.asp. Accessed July 7, 2009.
- Young MC. Colon cancer. In: Rakel D. Integrative Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/147305686-4/0/1494/0.html. Accessed July 2, 2009.
- Elwood PC, et al. Aspirin, salicylates and cancer. The Lancet. 2009;373:1301.
- Rex DK, et al. American College of Gastroenterology guidelines for colorectal cancer screening 2008. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2009;104:739.
