complementary and alternative medicine and cancer

A small number of CAM therapies, which were originally considered to be purely alternative approaches, are finding a place in cancer treatment--not as cures, but as complementary therapies that may help patients feel better and recover faster. One example is acupuncture. In 1997, a panel of experts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Conference found acupuncture to be effective in managing chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting and in controlling pain associated with surgery. In contrast, some approaches, such as the use of laetrile, have been studied and found ineffective or potentially harmful. 

• Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine.

• Alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine.

• Integrative medicine combines treatments from conventional medicine and CAM for which there is some high-quality evidence of safety and effectiveness. It is also called integrated medicine.

Reasons People with Cancer Choose CAM

People with cancer may use CAM to:

• Help cope with the side effects of cancer treatments, such as nausea, pain, and fatigue;

• Comfort themselves and ease the worries of cancer treatment and related stress;

• Feel that they are doing something more to help with their own care;

• Try to treat or cure their cancer.

When considering CAM, what questions should patients ask their health care providers?

• What benefits can be expected from this therapy?

• What are the risks associated with this therapy?

• Do the known benefits outweigh the risks?

• What are the potential side effects?

• Will the therapy interfere with conventional treatment?

• Is this therapy part of a clinical trial? If so, who is sponsoring the trial?

• Will the therapy be covered by health insurance?