Are There Other Cancer Treatment Options

I have Ependymoma cancer, which is a rare neurological cancer. Thankfully, it's just in my spinal cord and hasn't spread to my brain. I was on chemotherapy for a little over one year. I also had very extensive radiation. So far nothing has worked on curing me- are there any other routes that can be taken to help me? Right now I happen to not be on anything other than a " don't let this get to you" plan. Surgery is out because it is too risky to do. I wish there was something that could be done.

— Question from Anonymous Caring.com community member

Expert Answer by Bonnie Bajorek Daneker

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Bonnie Bajorek Daneker

Bonnie Bajorek Daneker is author and creator of the The Compassionate Caregiver's Series, which includes "The Compassionate Caregiver's Guide to Caring for Someone with Cancer," "The Journey of Grief," "Handbook on Hospice and Palliative Care," and other titles on cancer diagnosis and end of life. She speaks regularly at cancer research and support functions, including PANCAN and Cancer Survivor's Network. She is a former member of the Executive Committee of the CSN at St. Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta and the Georgia Chapter of the Lymphoma Research Foundation.

There are other cancer treatments available, although your personal condition will limit which ones will be of help. You may want to investigate two other options: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) in the National Institutes of Health, which explores complementary and alternative healing practices at www.nccam.nih.gov or Clinicaltrials.gov. Good luck to you.