Complementary Therapies
It is important to ask questions about the complementary therapies you are interested in. This will help you make decisions on the kinds of complementary therapies that would be of benefit and be safe for you.
Asking questions is important
Read through these questions and make a note of the ones that
are relevant to you to help in your discussions with complementary
therapists, doctors or other health professionals.
Things to consider before using complementary therapies
Some questions you might ask when deciding what complementary
therapies to use or whether to use them at all, are:
- Will the therapy directly harm me because of:
- its side-effects?
- its possible interactions with other medication?
- needing to stop conventional treatment?
- being told by the therapist to stop or delay all convential
treatment?
- Is the cost of the therapies or medicines beyond my means?
To help you answer these questions, you need to talk to
complementary therapists and doctors. Depending on their area of
specialty they may not know the answers to some of these questions
and you may need to work together to find out more information.
General questions to ask any potential complementary
therapist
- What are your qualifications? Are you a member of a
professional association?
- What training or experience do you have in treating people with
cancer? Have you treated anyone with my type of cancer?
- Are you willing to work with my doctors or other health
professionals I may need to see?
- How can the therapies you practise help me? Are there any
specific precautions you would take for me?
- Are there side-effects or risks associated with these
therapies?
- Has the therapy been tested in clinical trials?
- Have the findings been published and are they available for me
to read?
- Can these therapies be combined with conventional
treatment?
- How long should I use this therapy and how will I know if it's
working?
- Are you able to do home visits if I am not well enough to
attend your clinic?
- How long are your consultations?
- What do you charge for a consultation?
- Do you dispense your own medicine and supplements?
- How much can I expect to pay for my medicines?
- Have the products or medicines you dispense been approved by
the Therapeutic Goods Administration?
General questions to ask you doctor
- Are you familiar with complementary therapies or
medicines?
- Are you qualified in complementary therapies yourself?
- Are there any complementary therapies you think might benefit
me?
- Would you be happy for me to use complementary therapies?
- Would you be willing to talk to my complementary therapists
about my case?
- Do you know whether the complementary medicines I am taking or
wish to take will interfere with my chemotherapy or other
conventional treatments?
Questions to ask your health professional about specific
therapies
Mind Body techniques
- What type of therapist would be the best for my issues?
- Can you refer me to a psychologist or a counsellor?
Body-based practices
- Are there any forms of massage or bodywork that would benefit
me?
- Would you advise against any particular form of massage or
bodywork?
- Can you provide me with a letter giving your approval for me to
have massage or other bodywork therapy?
- Are there any areas on my body where the massage therapist
needs to take special care? Can the area be touched or should it be
avoided all together?
- Can I have acupuncture before and/or after surgery,
chemotherapy or radiotherapy?
- What precautions, if any, should I take?
- What type of exercise would benefit me the most?
- Would I be able to participate in tai chi, qi gong or
yoga?
- What level of exercise intensity would be suitable for me?
Biological-based therapies
Nutrition
- Are there any dietary modifications I should make for my
general well-being?
- Should I eat organic foods?
- Are there any vitamin or mineral supplements that will help
specific side-effects caused by conventional treatment?
- Should I be taking a multivitamin?
- What can I eat to improve my digestion and bowel
movements?
- Are there any foods or supplements that I should definitely
have or definitely avoid during and after cancer treatment?
- Should I see a dietician or a nutritionist?
Herbal Medicine
- Are there any herbs that you would recommend during or after
cancer treatment?
- Are there any herbs I shouldn't take because of my medication,
surgery or other conventional treatments?
- If I use herbal medicine, when should I take it in relation to
my other medication or conventional treatments? Is it ok to use it
at the same time or should I take it at a different time?
- Can I use a herbal cream to help with redness from
radiation?
- Is it ok for me to drink herbal teas as a general
beverage?
- Are there any foods or supplements that I should definitely
have or definitely avoid during and after cancer treatment?
- Should I see a dietician or a nutritionist?
Other therapies
Flower remedies and homeopathy
- Will I have any side effects from these remedies?
- Is it ok for me to use these remedies at any time?
- Do you think flower remedies or homeopathy would benefit
me?
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