By Jett Pe Benito

Vicky has been in remission from breast cancer for 7 years now. Like any cancer patient she went through the whole nine yards of the medical treatment, from mastectomy to chemotherapy to taking in countless number of medicines. But does she attribute her remission solely to these medical treatments? "No" she replies, "a little while after undergoing chemo, I decided to not only fight the disease through medical means but through other ways as well."

Vicki is only one of the thousands who have sought to support their medical treatments with other unconventional methods. These unconventional methods go by the name of complimentary therapy. By the name itself, these therapies do not seek to take the place of medical treatment nor the expert opinion of specialists but rather be used in conjunction with medical remedies.

A major trend in treating diseases nowadays is to apply the holistic approach, meaning: treatment can not only be done medically, but spiritually, psychologically and incorporating other aspects of the person as well. If you are suffering from cancer and would like to feel that you are doing something to improve your chances and take control of your health then there are various complimentary therapies that you can research on and eventually do. But before going on with the therapy there are certain practical guidelines that you should follow:

• Ask your doctor's opinion of a complimentary therapy that would be ideal for your case
  
• Be wary of "therapists" who are not licensed or do not belong to a recognized organization
  
• Consult with a therapist who has been recommended by a fellow cancer patient, the hospital or family member.
  
• Design your complimentary therapy with your therapist and doctor in such a way that it will not interfere with your medical treatment
  
• Express any misgivings and feelings about the therapy to your therapist, ask about the cost and how many sessions it would take before results are felt.
  
• Focus and remember that there are no "quick, miracle cures."
  
• Give yourself time to incorporate the therapy into your life and remember that this is only done to compliment the medical attention you're receiving.

After you have consulted with your medical doctor and have been given a list of complimentary therapies that you can perform, it's best to know what the therapies can do for you. The following are some and the concepts behind them:

• Shiatsu or Acupuncture - probably one of the most popular therapies around. Basically, this method operates on the concept that applying pressure, usually with the use of needles, on certain parts of the body would lead to treating vital organs.
  
• Alexander Technique - this technique is usually administered to people who have backaches and sore necks. It operates on the concept of measured movements for a particular action, e.g. walking, sitting, standing or talking on the phone. The conservation of movements would then leave you energy for other activities.
  
• Ayurveda - this method is based on an age-old system of medicine from India, wherein a balance must be struck among all the bioenergies of the body, namely: earth, water, fire, air and ether. A vast area of subjects is covered by this medical philosophy, some of which includes nutrition, lifestyle and even surgery. Performing this therapy would require adhering to the Ayurvedic principles through the proper meditation, diet and exercise.
  
• Hypnotherapy - a patient is subjected to a deep-relaxed state and the therapist would then use this opportunity to inject positive thoughts into the patient.
  
• Herbalism - one of the oldest forms of medicine, herbalism follows the concept that herbs are used to treat the body of illnesses and restoring balance.
  
• Yoga - the basic meaning of yoga in Sanskrit is "union", which is achieved through activities or movements that brings together the mind, body and spirit. Yoga has been documented to lower blood pressure and fight fatigue or stress.

It is sad to note that these complementary therapies have not been fully recognized by medical society. But more and more cancer patients have attested to the fact that medical treatment treats the cancer while complimentary medicine treats the whole being. There are numerous complementary therapies that can be found in books, libraries and in various cultures around the world. But for cancer patients simply looking for ways to supplement their medical treatment, complementary therapy may not be the cure for cancer but it sure helps the cancer patient gain a feeling of empowerment over the disease.

Vicky realizes that performing yoga is not the entire solution to staying in remission, but what she explains this better by saying: "Yoga did not cure me of cancer but rather it helped my body be strong and push the cancer into remission."