Evidence-Based Non-Pharmacological Therapies for Palliative Cancer Care (Evidence-Based Anticancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Vol. 4)

About this book

• This is the first book covering comprehensive researches to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of non-pharmacological interventions as an evidence-based therapy for cancer
• This is a timely book for those who require an updated overview of the many aspects of non-pharmacological therapies research in cancer care
• This is an essential reading for those who wish to explore the in-depth scientific evidence and expert opinions on the recent progress of non-pharmacological therapies for cancer care

Cancer is one of the leading killers in the world and the incidence is increasing, but most cancer patients and cancer survivors suffer much from the disease and its conventional treatments’ side effects. In the past, clinical data showed that some complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) possessed anticancer abilities, but some clinicians and scientists have queried about the scientific validity of CAM due to the lack of scientific evidence. There is great demand in the knowledge gap to explore the scientific and evidence-based knowledge of CAM in the anticancer field. With this aim, a book series is needed to structurally deliver the knowledge to readers.

Integrative therapies comprise a variety of non-pharmacological interventions that assist in alleviating physical and psychological symptoms. Apart from being a life-threatening disease, cancer and its therapy are usually associated with a significant deterioration in the quality of life. There is growing evidence that non-pharmacological therapies provide symptom and pain management in cancer palliation. This volume is a specialised book presenting the research evidence relevant to the application of a range of commonly used non-pharmacological interventions in supportive cancer care, including massage, acupressure, Qigong, yoga, mind-body therapy, mindfulness-based intervention, and aromatherapy. A number of scientific researches and clinical studies support that these therapies offer potential beneficial effects for cancer patients in terms of reducing pain, anxiety, and other symptoms. Indeed, non-pharmacological therapies are increasingly gaining acceptance in the healthcare community as complementary to conventional cancer treatments. Most of them are non-invasive, inexpensive, and useful in improving quality of life, and they may be accessed by patients themselves.

Table of contents

Prelims

1. An Overview of Non-pharmacological Therapies for Palliative Cancer Care

2. Effect of Massage Therapy on Anxiety and Depression in Cancer Patients

3. Effect of Massage Therapy on the Relief of Cancer Pain

4. The Effect of Acupressure on Chemotherapy-induced Nausea

5. Effects of Qigong Therapy on Alleviating Symptoms in Cancer Patients: An Overview of Systematic Reviews

6. Effects of Yoga on the Quality of Life in Cancer Patients

7. Efficacy of Mind-body Therapy on Stress Reduction in Cancer Care

8. Effect of Mindfulness-based Interventions in Cancer Care

9. Aromatherapy, Physical and Movement-based Therapies on Symptom Management for Cancer Patients

10. Safety and Side Effects of Non-pharmacological Interventions as a Therapy for Cancer

11. Integrating Non-pharmacological Therapies with Western Medicine in Cancer Treatment

Index.