This section gives information about some of the most popular and widely available therapies used by people with cancer in the UK. These therapies are available in many cancer treatment centres and are now often seen as part of conventional support for many patients. The therapies may be able to help people feel better and reduce symptoms or emotional distress caused by cancer. Some therapies may be able to reduce side effects caused by cancer treatment.

Simple breathing and relaxation exercises may be very useful in reducing anxiety and stress. They may also reduce muscle tension and also affect the part of the nervous system that controls blood pressure and the digestive system. Many people with cancer – and their relatives – find this relaxing, and experience a sense of calmness using these simple methods. Relaxation can sometimes be used together with meditation and visualisation.

Almost everyone can learn relaxation techniques. You can learn them at home using a CD or cassette, or you may be able to join a group. Self-help exercises need motivation and constant practice to give benefit, and it may be easier to stay motivated by attending group classes.

Lying flat may be uncomfortable for people who are breathless or in pain, but many relaxation exercises can be done sitting up or using pillows for support.

Further details about relaxation can be obtained from some of the helpful books in our Patient Information Guide.

The organisations Talking Life, Penny Brohn Cancer Care and the Pain Relief Foundation also provide relaxation tapes.

Some hospitals and support groups offer relaxation sessions. You can ask if they are provided at your hospital.

This is a technique that involves creating images in your mind while you are in a state of relaxation or meditation. For example, you might imagine:

• that you are lying in a field full of beautiful flowers
• that you are healthy and strong
• that the sun’s rays are shining on you, warming you and giving you strength.

The theory is that by imagining a peaceful scene, you will encourage yourself to feel more relaxed; and by imagining yourself as healthy you can influence the health of your body. A simple exercise to show how imagination can produce physical changes is to picture a lemon being cut in front of you. Most people who do this will notice that they start to produce more saliva.

Various research studies are being carried out to look at whether visualisation can improve outcomes for people with cancer. Some studies have shown that visualisation or guided imagery can reduce the symptoms of cancer and the side effects of treatment for some people. Others have suggested that visualisation may have an effect on the immune system.

Many people report that visualising themselves as stronger helps them to feel better, and they regard it as a form of extended relaxation. Some studies have shown that gentle mental imagery can produce significant improvements in the mood of people having treatment for breast cancer.

Some hospitals and support groups offer guided imagery or visualisation. You can ask if they are provided at your hospital or contact us for details of support groups in your area.

Hypnosis is another method which some people find helpful in dealing with symptoms of cancer, such as pain. It can be useful in reducing some of the side effects associated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, such as nausea and vomiting.

In this treatment, the hypnotherapist leads the person into a deeply relaxed state, during which the person is still conscious of their surroundings. The hypnotherapist can then use suggestion to benefit the person in different ways, such as feeling better or gaining some control over symptoms.

You can find out more about hypnotherapy and how to contact a registered therapist from The British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis or the Central Register of Advanced Hypnotherapists.

This therapy is used to help people to express themselves through art. The art therapist is usually a psychotherapist and encourages the person to communicate feelings such as fear or anger through painting, drawing or sculpting. The aim is to express feelings rather than produce a work of art. The therapy can be given one-to-one with the therapist or in groups. Through creativity, we can sometimes become aware of and release pent-up feelings. The feelings or emotions can then be discussed, if appropriate, in counselling or group sessions.

You don’t need to be able to draw or paint at all as you will be encouraged to be spontaneous and doodle. Sometimes the therapist may be more directive and ask you to ‘paint your cancer' or try to capture your relationship with your family. These exercises can help you understand yourself more fully. Art therapy can also be fun and a creative approach to dealing with unhappy and distressing experiences.

You can get more information about art therapy and finding a trained therapist from the British Association of Art Therapists.

Healers believe that healing energy exists all around us, and that they act as a channel through which healing energy flows into the patient. Healing can provide an important and very valuable support for the person with cancer and his or her family. It may be referred to as spiritual or faith healing if it is used in the context of a religious or spiritual approach to heal the person.

Contact healing may also be known as the laying on of hands in the Christian church.

In therapeutic touch, the healer works just above the surface of the body. They believe this affects an energy field that surrounds each person. Some nurses practice therapeutic touch.

You can get more information about healing and finding a healer from the National Federation of Spiritual Healers.

Reiki is a Japanese word meaning Universal Life Energy, an energy which is all around us. Reiki is a system of natural healing which evolved in Japan. Today Reiki is taught and practiced by Reiki Masters who have trained in the tradition passed down from master to student.

During a Reiki treatment the recipient simply lies on a couch and relaxes. If they are unable to lie down, the treatment can be given in a comfortable sitting position. There is no need to remove any clothing. The practitioner gently places their hands non-intrusively in a sequence of positions which cover the whole body. The aim of Reiki is to treat the whole person rather than specific symptoms. A full treatment usually takes 1–1½ hours with each position held for several minutes.

Reiki treatment is available in some hospitals and support groups.

Meditation is a way of working with the mind. It uses concentration or reflection to help to deeply relax and calm the mind, helping to reduce feelings of fear, pain, anxiety and depression.

Regular meditation practice can help people feel more in control of themselves and their lives. Many studies have shown that regular meditation lowers blood pressure and reduces the pulse rate, as well as anxiety and stress levels.

People who have particular psychiatric conditions such as psychosis may find that some types of meditation make their psychiatric illness worse. It is best to talk to a meditation instructor from an established meditation organisation (and your psychological support team, if necessary) before trying meditation. It is also helpful to practice in a group until you are familiar with the meditation technique. It’s also good to talk regularly about your meditation to an experienced meditation practitioner.

Some hospitals and support groups offer mediation sessions. You can ask if these are provided at your hospital or contact us for details of support groups in your area.