The following article covers alternative treatments for breast cancer.
Conventional treatments like surgery, hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, and radiation aren’t the only options for treating breast cancer.
There are many science-backed alternative therapies that can strengthen the body’s immune response, reduce the side effects caused by traditional treatment, and enhance the efficacy of cancer drugs.
These treatment options enable individuals to take an integrative approach to breast cancer treatment – one in which the body’s healing process is supported while targeting cancer.
But figuring out which alternative therapies are worthwhile can be overwhelming. There are plenty of alternative and natural treatments available, but not all of them are evidence-based or helpful for people with breast cancer.
In this article, we’ll look at nine alternative treatments for breast cancer that are approved by science and how they might help individuals fighting cancer. These options are known to support overall health and are used by licensed physicians and holistic practitioners around the country.
What Is an Alternative Approach to Breast Cancer?
Treating breast cancer holistically involves tailoring a treatment plan to the individual based on their holistic needs – which include physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual needs.
The goal isn’t simply to attack cancer. With holistic medicine, the objective is to evaluate an individual’s needs and develop a comprehensive plan that brings together treatments that work synergistically to meet those needs.
Alternative Treatments for Breast Cancer Patients
Here are nine alternative breast cancer treatments worth exploring.
1. Nutritional Therapy
Nutritional therapy draws upon diet and nutrition to support the body as it fights cancer. For example, research has shown that vitamin D might impact the expression of different hormone receptors in breast cancer and increase the efficacy of tamoxifen, a drug used to treat hormone-positive breast cancer [1].
Different foods such as green tea and flax seeds are also linked to anticancer effects. Animal studies found that the polyphenols in green tea inhibit cancer cell division and stimulate the death of tumor cells while eating flax seeds slows the rate of breast cancer growth [2, 3].
Adequate nutrition is also essential to preventing negative long-term outcomes from conventional breast cancer treatments – for instance, both chemotherapy and hormonal therapy are known to increase the risk of osteoporosis in women undergoing breast cancer patients, increasing the need for calcium and vitamin D intake [4].
2. Magnetic Therapy
Magnetic therapy is a non-invasive treatment that’s known to positively affect blood circulation. This helps the body eliminate cytotoxins and free radicals, which can reduce some of the side effects of conventional cancer treatments.
Research has also revealed that the use of magnetic fields might be a promising alternative cancer treatment. In one study involving mice injected with breast cancer cells, daily exposure to low-level magnetic fields for up to four weeks suppressed tumor growth [5].
3. Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a complementary cancer therapy that can relieve some of the side effects of traditional breast cancer treatments, particularly chemotherapy.
One study found that acupuncture is useful for minimizing chemo-related cognitive impairment in breast cancer patients [6]. Study participants who received acupuncture scored higher on cognitive tests. They also had higher levels of BDNF (brain-derived neurotropic factor) in their blood. BDNF is a protein that promotes nerve cell survival and is believed to correlate with improvements in memory and learning.
Research also points to a connection between acupuncture and less cancer-related fatigue. The breast cancer patients in the study who received acupuncture along with their usual care experienced less fatigue, better emotional well-being, and less anxiety and depression [7].
4. Lymphatic Massage
One of the most common complications of traditional care is breast-cancer related lymphedema (BCRL) – over one in five patients who undergo breast cancer surgery or radiation therapy develop BCRL [8]. Lymphatic massage is a hands-on therapy for BCRL that can help increase drainage, reduce swelling, and minimize infection risk.
Not only does lymphatic massage improve the symptoms of BCRL, but researchers using MRI technology have also found that it significantly impacts tissue composition, indicating that manual lymphatic drainage is a valuable therapy for breast cancer patients [9].
5. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
During a hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment, a patient lies in a pressurized chamber where they’re exposed to 100% oxygen. This increases the amount of oxygen in the blood and results in more oxygen reaching damaged tissue.
Oxygen therapy can help breast cancer patients by improving cognitive function, energy levels, and sleep quality. Studies show that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can also alleviate pain from radiation therapy and boost the quality of life [10].
6. Meditative Movement
Meditative exercises such as tai chi and qi gong are excellent for improving overall well-being and relieving the stress and anxiety that can accompany coping with cancer. Tai chi has been shown to have a beneficial effect – reducing arm pain, fatigue, and anxiety and improving quality of life – within 12 weeks of practice [11]. Additionally, women who practiced qi gong while undergoing radiation treatment for breast cancer reported fewer symptoms of depression and less fatigue [12].
7. Herbal Therapy
Herbs can also play a role in supporting breast cancer patients. There are a number of flowers, roots, and other plants that have been shown to boost immune system function and assist the body’s natural healing process while undergoing conventional treatments.
Here are three of the most helpful herbs for breast cancer:
- Echinacea is known to increase the number of natural killer cells in the body – these white blood cells attack and kill tumor cells [13].
- Burdock root contains flavonoids and polyphenol antioxidants, which are believed to suppress tumor development [14].
- Ginger has been shown to reduce nausea after chemotherapy for up to 24 hours. And when taken for five days before and after treatment, it can help to reduce vomiting as well [14].
8. Low-Level Light Therapy
Low-level light therapy (LLLT), also known as photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy, is a type of non-surgical laser therapy. A licensed practitioner uses light to stimulate the immune system and increase the effectiveness of other cancer therapies.
Studies involving mice show that PMB slows the progression of breast cancer tumors. There’s also research linking cancer patients who receive PBM therapy to increased survival rates [15].
9. Immunotherapy
One of the newest treatments for breast cancer, immunotherapy stimulates the body’s immune system so it will kill existing cancer cells [16]. It’s a particularly promising treatment for triple-negative breast cancer, which is an aggressive type of breast cancer that doesn’t respond well to other conventional treatments. However, immunotherapy does come with uncomfortable side effects and can trigger an autoimmune response, so it’s important to support the body’s healing process while undergoing this treatment.
Can You Treat Breast Cancer Holistically?
Because alternative cancer care involves the integration of all treatment methods that serve the individual, it is possible to treat breast cancer holistically and achieve excellent results. Patients benefit from tailored natural and alternative therapies that can work alongside conventional treatments that target the cancer.
At Brio-Medical, our experienced team of licensed physicians and nurses can develop a tailored treatment plan that serves your unique needs. Find out more about how holistic treatments can help with breast cancer. Contact Brio-Medical today.
References for alternative breast cancer treatments:
[1] Thabet, Romany H et al. “Vitamin D: an essential adjuvant therapeutic agent in breast cancer.” The Journal of international medical research vol. 50,7 (2022): 3000605221113800. doi:10.1177/03000605221113800
[2] Zaveri, Nurulain T. “Green tea and its polyphenolic catechins: medicinal uses in cancer and noncancer applications.” Life sciences vol. 78,18 (2006): 2073-80. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2005.12.006
[3] Chen, Jianmin et al. “Dietary flaxseed inhibits human breast cancer growth and metastasis and downregulates expression of insulin-like growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptor.” Nutrition and cancer vol. 43,2 (2002): 187-92. doi:10.1207/S15327914NC432_9
[4] Ramaswamy, Bhuvaneswari, and Charles L Shapiro. “Osteopenia and osteoporosis in women with breast cancer.” Seminars in oncology vol. 30,6 (2003): 763-75. doi:10.1053/j.seminoncol.2003.08.028
[5] Tatarov, Ivan et al. “Effect of magnetic fields on tumor growth and viability.” Comparative medicine vol. 61,4 (2011): 339-45.
[6] Tong, Taishan et al. “Efficacy of Acupuncture Therapy for Chemotherapy-Related Cognitive Impairment in Breast Cancer Patients.” Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research vol. 24 2919-2927. 8 May. 2018, doi:10.12659/MSM.909712
[7] Molassiotis, Alexander et al. “Acupuncture for cancer-related fatigue in patients with breast cancer: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial.” Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology vol. 30,36 (2012): 4470-6. doi:10.1200/JCO.2012.41.6222
[8] Ezzo, Jeanette et al. “Manual lymphatic drainage for lymphedema following breast cancer treatment.” The Cochrane database of systematic reviews ,5 CD003475. 21 May. 2015, doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003475.pub2
[9] Donahue, Paula M C et al. “Bilateral Changes in Deep Tissue Environment After Manual Lymphatic Drainage in Patients with Breast Cancer Treatment-Related Lymphedema.” Lymphatic research and biology vol. 15,1 (2017): 45-56. doi:10.1089/lrb.2016.0020
[10] Batenburg, Marilot C T et al. “The impact of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on late radiation toxicity and quality of life in breast cancer patients.” Breast cancer research and treatment vol. 189,2 (2021): 425-433. doi:10.1007/s10549-021-06332-2
[11] Luo, Xiao-Chao et al. “Effect of Tai Chi Chuan in Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Frontiers in oncology vol. 10 607. 23 Apr. 2020, doi:10.3389/fonc.2020.00607
[12] Chen, Zhen et al. “Qigong improves quality of life in women undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer: results of a randomized controlled trial.” Cancer vol. 119,9 (2013): 1690-8. doi:10.1002/cncr.27904
[13] Steffani, N.D., 2005. The anti-carcinogenic effect of Echinacea purpurea and Echinacea pallida on a mammalian breast cancer cell line. ETD Collection for Tennessee State University. Paper AAI3201864.
[14] Shareef, Munazza et al. “Natural cures for breast cancer treatment.” Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society vol. 24,3 (2016): 233-40. doi:10.1016/j.jsps.2016.04.018
[15] Hamblin, Michael R et al. “Photobiomodulation and Cancer: What Is the Truth?.” Photomedicine and laser surgery vol. 36,5 (2018): 241-245. doi:10.1089/pho.2017.4401
[16] Katz, Heather, and Mohamed Alsharedi. “Immunotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer.” Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England) vol. 35,1 13. 18 Dec. 2017, doi:10.1007/s12032-017-1071-6
