Many women find that complementary therapies or practices can help them to feel stronger and more confident in dealing with secondary breast cancer. They can be used alongside conventional treatments and medicines.

Complementary therapies can help to improve quality of life and wellbeing and can sometimes help to reduce symptoms. Some complementary therapies, such as meditation or visualisation, can be done by the person with cancer themselves and can reduce anxiety. Other therapies such as gentle massage can be carried out by relatives or carers and can help them to support the person.

Physical contact and touch can be among the most powerful forms of support for people who are faced with uncertainty, fear or pain, whether emotional or physical. Touching someone gently can express how much you care about them.

Many hospices and hospitals offer complementary therapies alongside conventional care. These may include:

• aromatherapy
• colour and sound therapy
• massage or reflexology
• relaxation, visualisation or guided imagery techniques
• acupuncture.