Beyond Conventional Treatments: The Role of Complementary Therapies in Head and Neck Cancer.

Summary: Head and neck cancer treatments, like surgery and chemotherapy, can cause tough side effects that make it hard to eat, swallow, or feel well. Many patients are turning to extra therapies to help them feel better. A recent review looked at these options to see what actually works.

They found that acupuncture can help with dry mouth and swallowing problems. Gentle practices like yoga and traditional Chinese medicine can boost a patient's overall well-being and mood. However, things like vitamins and cannabis have mixed results and might even carry risks of making the cancer worse. While these extra therapies can improve quality of life, we still need more studies to prove they are completely safe and work well alongside standard cancer treatments.