Types of relaxation techniques, which can help cancer patients

Cancer detection and following treatments lead to emotional stress. Patients worry constantly about their current situation and how it lowers their quality of life. Some of them are not able to return to work and school, while some no longer can; take part in social activities Therefore they feel socially isolated. It is at this point that they need more help from friends and family. To combat stress more effectively, they require relaxation techniques but. They act directly as alternative cancer therapies, but they help reduce symptoms in reducing the burden of cancer patients, as well as cancer. Some of them are:

Deep breathing exercise

Shallow breathing, which is brought on by fear, leads to an accumulation of carbon dioxide in the body. Deep breathing exercise, you will make sure feel. Simply breathing deeply from your diaphragm. Keep it for as long as you can then gently exhale. Repeat the process several times until you feel calm.

Images by

As the term suggests, creates images images on your mind. You can first lying on the bed and close your eyes. Imagine a place synonymous with beauty and tranquility as directly on the beach. Imagine that you are resting on a hammock, experience and enjoy the waves as they dance and sing a quiet song. Visualize your family and have fun with the waves because they like to swim in the crystal clear water. Remember her laughter. Detect as open your eyes and bring you back to reality, you feel much better.

You can choose to perform the images in front of the hospital for your regular treatment sessions. This will somehow brighten mood, making you more positive about what you are doing. You will be surprised to notice that you don't feel so stressful as before. This may be no direct alternative cancer treatment, but it certainly improves your well-being, contributing much of the manner, as you are dealing with cancer treatments.

Progressive muscle relaxation

Includes specific muscle groups avoid this form of relaxation technique, and then enable to relax them. As you do this, lie down on the bed. Make sure that you are in a comfortable position and clothing. Close your eyes and feel the silent place. Think to yourself.

First, fold the forehead. Let your eyebrows to reach your hairline. Stay in this pose for five seconds, then relax. Focus on your eyes. Close properly (you will realize that your nose will be moved also). Scowl and you move the muscles in your lips, cheeks and jaw. Stretch your arms forward when pressing your fists. The relaxation you feel in your hands. Follow this up, because to build tension in the forearms, upper arms, shoulders, back, abdomen, hips and buttocks, thighs, feet and toes. If you keep some muscles feel tense feel, go back and do this again two-to three times.

It is but natural for cancer patients as you are looking to alternative cancer therapies, because you are hoping to improve your chances for survival. Relaxation one way to improve the condition, that really is on how you answer to cancer therapies help.

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Study reveals widespread support for rationing of certain Types of cancer care

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 18 May 2013-0:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Study Finds Broad Support For Rationing Of Some Types Of Cancer Care

The majority of cancer doctors, patients, and members of the general public support cutting health care costs by refusing to pay for drugs that don't improve survival or quality of life, according to results of a new study that will be presented by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania during the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago in early June (Abstract #6518).

The Penn Medicine team surveyed 326 adult cancer patients receiving treatment at Penn's Abramson Cancer Center, a random sample of 891 adults in the general public, and 250 oncologists across the United States during 2012 to probe their opinions about tactics for controlling costs associated with cancer care.

"We found that the majority of respondents considered Medicare spending a big or moderate problem, and many suggested that Medicare could spend less without causing harm," said the study's lead author, John Gogineni, MD, MSHP, an instructor in the division of Hematology-Oncology in Penn's Abramson Cancer Center. "We know that cancer patients and their doctors face decisions every day that stand to raise health care costs without conferring much benefit to patients, and our survey has identified some common themes in how these groups of stakeholders might propose to lower costs of care while still protecting patients."

More than 90 percent of all three groups surveyed attributed rising costs to drug companies charging too much, and more than 80 percent of each group cited insurance company profits as a driver of rising costs. Many also thought hospitals and doctors conducted unnecessary tests and provided unnecessary treatments (69 percent of patients, 81 percent of the general public, and 70 percent of doctors).

The research team, which includes senior author Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD, chairman of the department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, presented a variety of potential cost-lowering options to each group and asked whether they supported the idea. Cancer patients, members of the general public, and oncologists tended to be about as likely to say patients who can afford to pay more for care should be asked to pay more (56, 58, and 52 percent, respectively). And large numbers signed not paying for more expensive drugs when cheaper alternatives are equally as effective (78 percent of patients, 86 percent of the general public, and 90 percent of physicians). The majority also supported refusing to cover drugs that do not improve survival or quality of life, though physicians were more apt to refuse payment under those circumstances (79 percent compared to 52 percent of patients and 57 percent of the general public).

Even drugs that confer only incremental gains in survival, however, were found to be worth covering in the eyes of all groups surveyed: Just 12 percent of physicians were willing to refuse payment for a drug that extends life by four months, compared to 20 percent of patients and 28 percent of the general public.

Greater differences of opinion were observed around coverage for drugs offering benefits other than survival gains. When queried about a drug that doesn't extend life but reduces pain, for instance, only 5 percent of patients and 10 percent of the general public voiced support for refusing to cover the medication, compared to 32 percent of physicians. On coverage for a drug that doesn't extend life but adds convenience, 27 and 32 percent of patients and the general public, respectively, said those costs should not be covered, compared to 59 percent of physicians.

"These results suggest that patients and the lay public prioritize quality of life, while oncologists appear focused on controlling disease and increasing length of life," Gogineni says. "Patients have a much broader set of concerns, from the cost of their doctor's visits to the side effects of treatment and the emotional toll of their illness."

Sixty four percent of physicians said they supported the idea of an independent expert panel that would decide which therapies to cover, but that plan was met with resistance from patients (33 percent approved) and the general public (46 percent approved). The authors suggest this may be because physicians are more familiar with such models, which are already used for decision-making around scarce medical resources such as ICU beds and organs for transplantation. And, Gogineni notes, "distancing the locus of responsibility for access to high cost, low benefit cancer treatment may create less strain on the physician-patient relationship."

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our cancer / oncology section for the latest news on this subject. ASCO Annual Meeting: May 31-June 4, 2013 | McCormick Place | Chicago, Illinois
Gogineni will present the team's findings at ASCO on Sunday, June 2, 2013 in the Health Services Research poster session from 8 a.m. to noon in McCormick Place S405.
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