Complementary Therapies as a Strategy to Reduce Stress and Stimulate Immunity of Women With Breast Cancer
The stress associated with cancer development leads to disturbances in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and suppresses important facets of the immune response. The use of complementary therapies in the treatment of women with breast cancer has demonstrated therapeutic benefits that entail imp...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2515690X19834169 |
| _version_ | 1818241409632698368 |
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| author | Camila Aparecida Abrahão BScN, MD Emiliana Bomfim BScN, MSc Luís Carlos Lopes-Júnior BScN, OCN, MSC, PhD Gabriela Pereira-da-Silva BSc, MS, PhD |
| author_facet | Camila Aparecida Abrahão BScN, MD Emiliana Bomfim BScN, MSc Luís Carlos Lopes-Júnior BScN, OCN, MSC, PhD Gabriela Pereira-da-Silva BSc, MS, PhD |
| author_sort | Camila Aparecida Abrahão BScN, MD |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The stress associated with cancer development leads to disturbances in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and suppresses important facets of the immune response. The use of complementary therapies in the treatment of women with breast cancer has demonstrated therapeutic benefits that entail improvements in the patients’ quality of life. The objective of this article is to present evidence on the use of complementary therapies as a stress reduction strategy and on its stimulating effects on the immune system of women with breast cancer. This is a reflexive updating article that will support the health professionals’ understanding on the use of complementary therapies in breast cancer care. The use of complementary therapies in the treatment of women with breast cancer has significantly improved these subjects’ stress, depression, fatigue, anxiety, and, consequently, their quality of life, as well as their immune response, which is mainly illustrated by the increased number and cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells. Clinicians, health professionals, and patients need to be cautious about using complementary therapies and fully understand the real benefits and risks associated with each therapy. Little or no supporting evidence is available to clarify the effects on the immune system of women with breast cancer, and the consequent therapeutic benefits obtained through the use of these practices. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T13:28:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b71f429f05a84accb38b509afc800116 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2515-690X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T13:28:53Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-b71f429f05a84accb38b509afc8001162022-12-22T00:23:07ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine2515-690X2019-01-012410.1177/2515690X19834169Complementary Therapies as a Strategy to Reduce Stress and Stimulate Immunity of Women With Breast CancerCamila Aparecida Abrahão BScN, MD0Emiliana Bomfim BScN, MSc1Luís Carlos Lopes-Júnior BScN, OCN, MSC, PhD2Gabriela Pereira-da-Silva BSc, MS, PhD3 University of Franca at Franca College of Medicine—UNIFRAN, São Paulo, Brazil University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Federal University of São Carlos—UFSCar, São Carlos, Brazil University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, BrazilThe stress associated with cancer development leads to disturbances in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and suppresses important facets of the immune response. The use of complementary therapies in the treatment of women with breast cancer has demonstrated therapeutic benefits that entail improvements in the patients’ quality of life. The objective of this article is to present evidence on the use of complementary therapies as a stress reduction strategy and on its stimulating effects on the immune system of women with breast cancer. This is a reflexive updating article that will support the health professionals’ understanding on the use of complementary therapies in breast cancer care. The use of complementary therapies in the treatment of women with breast cancer has significantly improved these subjects’ stress, depression, fatigue, anxiety, and, consequently, their quality of life, as well as their immune response, which is mainly illustrated by the increased number and cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells. Clinicians, health professionals, and patients need to be cautious about using complementary therapies and fully understand the real benefits and risks associated with each therapy. Little or no supporting evidence is available to clarify the effects on the immune system of women with breast cancer, and the consequent therapeutic benefits obtained through the use of these practices.https://doi.org/10.1177/2515690X19834169 |
| spellingShingle | Camila Aparecida Abrahão BScN, MD Emiliana Bomfim BScN, MSc Luís Carlos Lopes-Júnior BScN, OCN, MSC, PhD Gabriela Pereira-da-Silva BSc, MS, PhD Complementary Therapies as a Strategy to Reduce Stress and Stimulate Immunity of Women With Breast Cancer Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine |
| title | Complementary Therapies as a Strategy to Reduce Stress and Stimulate Immunity of Women With Breast Cancer |
| title_full | Complementary Therapies as a Strategy to Reduce Stress and Stimulate Immunity of Women With Breast Cancer |
| title_fullStr | Complementary Therapies as a Strategy to Reduce Stress and Stimulate Immunity of Women With Breast Cancer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Complementary Therapies as a Strategy to Reduce Stress and Stimulate Immunity of Women With Breast Cancer |
| title_short | Complementary Therapies as a Strategy to Reduce Stress and Stimulate Immunity of Women With Breast Cancer |
| title_sort | complementary therapies as a strategy to reduce stress and stimulate immunity of women with breast cancer |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/2515690X19834169 |
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