Chiropractic and Cancer

By John R. Greensfelder, DC

Chiropractic care does not cure cancer nor treat cancer. Most often the stress of diagnosis alone is powerful enough to cause muscle tightness that creates pain and decreases spinal motion. Significant stress on the musculoskeletal system which includes your bones, muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments can be affected by undergoing procedures or treatments to fight the disease.

Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, radiation and/or surgeries sometimes experience nausea, headaches, pain and stiffness in the bones and joints, sciatica, neck and lower back pain and possibly problems with moving and walking. Chiropractic care focuses on these conditions of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Chiropractic care can often help cancer patients cope with the side effects of treatment and any underlying discomfort to the musculoskeletal system.

While chiropractic care can be helpful to patients undergoing treatment, precautions should be taken to ensure safe care. A patient's most recent X-rays and bone scans will be necessary to ensure the proper care.

Other wellness treatments which may be helpful to patients both during and after cancer treatment are heat and ice therapy, physical therapy, traction, trigger point therapy, massage and acupuncture.