Holistic Approach
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A Holistic Approach: Treating Children with Cancer – Part 2

ByJessica Pawlowski, BSN, RN

Holistic Approach, Easing Symptoms and Supporting Healing

 When your child is diagnosed with cancer, you face a whirlwind of emotions and decisions. In my previous article, A Holistic Approach to Pediatric Cancer Care, we explored the importance of a holistic approach. One way to support this broader view of healing is through complementary therapies.

 You may hear terms like complementary, alternative, and integrative care. These can be confusing. Here’s what each term means:

  • Complementary: Used alongside standard medical treatments such as chemotherapy or surgery to ease symptoms and improve well-being.
  • Alternative: Used instead of medical treatments which is not safe or recommended for children with cancer.
  • Integrative care: Combines conventional treatment with evidence-based complementary therapies into a coordinated plan.

In this article, we will focus on complementary therapies and their role in helping children manage common side effects of cancer treatment, while promoting comfort and resilience.

Complementary therapies should never replace medical treatment. Every child’s needs and health considerations are unique. Some therapies might not be suitable at certain stages of care. Always consult with your child’s oncology team before starting any complementary therapy to make sure it is safe and appropriate for your child.

Managing Pain and Comfort

 Pain is one of the most common and complex side effects of cancer treatment. Children may experience discomfort from procedures, surgery, or the disease itself. Complementary therapies can be used in conjunction with medical pain management to provide additional comfort and relief. Some standard treatments for pain management include:          

  • Acupuncture: A technique using thin needles placed in areas of the body. When performed by a trained pediatric provider, acupuncture is effective at reducing pain. Children generally tolerate acupuncture well.
  • Massage therapy: Gentle massage helps relax tense muscles, improve circulation, and calm the nervous system. Children can benefit from a gentle hand and foot massage, which can be a soothing experience. Massage can also lower stress hormones, making it easier for your child to rest.
  • Aromatherapy: The use of specific essential oils that can help in reducing symptoms. Oils can be added to a diffuser and inhaled or diluted and applied to the skin. Aromatherapy can be used alone or alongside massage therapy to relieve pain, reduce stress, and promote better sleep.

These approaches are not cures, but they can make a significant difference in how your child feels on a day-to-day basis. By addressing pain in multiple ways, families and care teams can take a more comprehensive approach to healing.

Easing Nausea and Digestive Issues

Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of chemotherapy and can interfere with nutrition and increase stress and anxiety.  Commonly used therapies to treat nausea and vomiting include:

  • Massage
  • Aromatherapy: certain scents, such as peppermint and ginger, can reduce feelings of nausea.
  • Acupuncture and acupressure: Acupressure is similar to acupuncture but uses pressure applied to the same acupuncture points to relieve symptoms. Both are shown to be effective in reducing chemotherapy-induced nausea. Wrist bands that apply pressure to the top of the wrist are a common form of acupressure.
  • Hypnotherapy: Refers to different practices used to treat multiple symptoms. It includes relaxation, imagination, and aromatherapy, and is effective at easing nausea and vomiting.

These therapies can be used alone or with medication to support and comfort your child. They help your child feel more at ease and encourage them to eat and drink during and after treatments.

Reducing Stress and Anxiety

A cancer diagnosis disrupts your child’s daily life. They might feel scared, sad, confused, or angry. The holistic approach addresses the emotional challenges your child may face, and complementary therapies can help ease stress and anxiety while improving overall well-being.

  • Guided imagery: Involves using positive words and images to promote relaxation and reduce stress.
  • Hypnotherapy: Involves a state of deep relaxation that assists in decreasing anxiety.
  • Music and art therapy: Allows children to process their emotions through creative outlets when they may not have the words to describe what they feel. Listening to music or engaging in art projects can help lower stress and lift one’s mood.
  • Yoga and breathing exercises: Gentle movements combined with mindful breathing can calm the nervous system, support flexibility, and ease sore muscles.

These therapies not only reduce stress but also promote emotional resilience. They provide tools your child can use during treatment and beyond.

Improving Sleep and Relaxation

Rest is essential for healing. Pain, anxiety, and hospital routines can interfere with sleep. Specific therapies can help your child relax and fall asleep more easily.

  • Progressive muscle relaxation: Teaches children to tense and relax different muscle groups to allow the body to relax purposefully.
  • Aromatherapy and massage: Gentle massage combined with certain scents helps reduce pain, calm the mind and body, and promote a more restful sleep.

By supporting sleep, these therapies improve energy and mood, making treatments more tolerable and improving quality of life.

Boosting Emotional Resilience

Cancer affects your child’s emotional health as much as their physical health. Helping them express their feelings safely and creatively is part of the healing process.

  • Play therapy: Play is a natural way to explore emotions, especially for younger children. With guidance, play therapy can help children work through their fears, sadness, and confusion.
  • Mindfulness and meditation: A practice that uses focused breathing or repetition of words to calm the mind and bring awareness. Meditation helps improve mental health symptoms, increase the ability to cope, and helps children self-regulate.

Supporting emotional resilience improves your child’s quality of life and helps them cope with the stress of a cancer diagnosis and all that comes along with it.

Family Involvement and Support

The use of complementary therapies provides opportunities for the family to join in supporting your child.  You can participate in relaxation exercises, yoga, or guided imagery alongside your child. Sharing these activities strengthens bonds, models healthy coping strategies, and reminds children that they are not alone.  Family participation reinforces the holistic approach to care, where healing involves the entire family, not just your child.

 Caring for your child during cancer involves more than just treating the disease. A holistic approach recognizes the importance of supporting all aspects of your child’s mind, body, and spirit. It helps families feel empowered and included. When combined with medical treatment, complementary therapies can help alleviate side effects, reduce stress, and enhance overall quality of life.  

 Safe, supportive therapies are available, but should always be discussed with your child’s care team first. With the right balance of expert medical care and holistic support, your child can maintain strength, resilience, and the joys of childhood. 

References

(n.d.). Pediatric Pain: Building a Path to Integrative Treatment. Academy of Pediatric Integrative Medicine. https://apim.org/pediatric-pain-building-a-path-to-integrative-treatment/

Casini, F., Scaltrito, F., Maria Teresa Grimaldi, Tudor Lucian Pop, Calcaterra, V., Gian Vincenzo Zuccotti, Massimo Pettoello-Mantovani, Ferrara, P., Corsello, G., & Fabiano, V. (2023). Use of complementary and alternative medicine in children affected by oncologic, neurologic, and liver diseases: a narrative review. Italian Journal of Pediatrics, 49(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-023-01554-0

Children and the Use of Complementary Health Approaches. (n.d.). NCCIH. Retrieved September 10, 2025, from https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/children-and-the-use-of-complementary-health-approaches

Complementary and Integrative Medicine. (n.d.). Www.cancer.org. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/treatment-types/complementary-and-integrative-medicine.html

Mind-body and Body-based Therapies. (2024). Cancer.org. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/treatment-types/complementary-and-integrative-medicine/mind-body-and-body-based-therapies.html

Mind-Body Therapies in Children and Youth. (2016). PEDIATRICS, 138(3), e20161896–e20161896. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-1896

National Cancer Institute. (2024, October 31). Complementary and Alternative Medicine. National Cancer Institute. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam

Ruggiero, A., Rizzo, D., Catalano, M., Coccia, P., Triarico, S., & Attiná, G. (2018). Acute chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in children with cancer: Still waiting for a common consensus on treatment. The Journal of International Medical Research, 46(6), 2149–2156. https://doi.org/10.1177/0300060518765324

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