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What are complementary and alternative
methods?
"Complementary" and "alternative" are terms used to describe a
number of products, practices, and systems that are not part of
mainstream medicine. They can include things like herbs and dietary
supplements, body movement, spiritual approaches, pills, extracts, and
creams or ointments. Some are done by a person with formal education
and training, such as art therapy. Others may be recommended by the
person who is selling the product in a store or on the Internet, such
as herbs or other dietary supplements. The methods can involve
everything from enemas, like colon therapy, to no-touch "energy work"
such as reiki. Some take a lot of time or cost a lot of money, such as
strict diets or travel to another country for special treatments.
Others are fairly cheap and easy to use, like vitamins or homeopathy.
Some can be done at home on your own, such as meditation and prayer,
and others require another person to give them, like massage or
acupuncture. Some almost never cause harm, while others can be
dangerous and have caused deaths.
You may hear about one or more of these treatments from
friends, family, co-workers, salespeople, and others. The treatment may
be something you've never heard of before, and it can be hard to get
good, unbiased information about it. Here we will go over what you need
to know before you decide to try one of these unconventional
treatments. We will give you some ideas about how to look at these
methods and what questions you might want to ask as you think about
what might be best for you. It may also help you find out more about
the treatments that interest you.
The American Cancer Society considers complementary and
alternative medicine to be different from each other:
Alternative medicine
is used instead of standard
or mainstream medical treatment, often with serious outcomes for the
patient.
Complementary medicine
is used along with
mainstream medical care. If carefully chosen and properly used, some of
these can improve your quality of life.
People with cancer might think about using alternative and
complementary methods for a number of reasons:
- to relieve the side effects of mainstream cancer treatment
without having to take more medicine
- to find a less unpleasant treatment approach that might
have few side effects
- to take an active role in improving their own health and
wellness
- because they prefer alternative theories of health and
disease, as well as alternative treatments
The decision to use alternative or complementary methods is an
important one, and it is yours to make. We have put together some
guidelines to help you think through the issues and make the most
informed and safest decision possible.
What are the risks of not using mainstream
cancer treatment?
Mainstream cancer treatments such as radiation, chemotherapy,
and surgery can be unpleasant. But they have been scientifically tested
and proven to work for treating cancer. Even though the side effects of
mainstream cancer treatment can be serious, the treatments are helping
you fight a life-threatening disease. Cancer patients who choose
alternative medicine instead of mainstream cancer treatments may be
putting themselves at serious risk. They are giving up the only proven
methods of treating their disease. Delays or interruptions in standard
treatment pose a dangerous risk to cancer patients because they can
give the cancer more time to grow. Even when cancer has reached a stage
where cure is not possible, it is important to remember that mainstream
care can offer a lot in the way of comfort.
How are complementary methods used to manage
cancer?
Some people believe that mainstream medicine is the only
option they have when it comes to treating symptoms and side effects,
relieving pain, and improving quality of life. Actually, there are many
complementary treatment methods you can use safely, right along with
your medical treatment. For example, some people find that certain
complementary methods -- such as aromatherapy, biofeedback, massage
therapy, meditation, tai chi, or yoga -- are very useful to help
control some of their symptoms and improve the quality of their lives.
But these methods do not treat the cancer.
Some cancer treatment centers offer some of these
complementary therapies on-site. When complementary treatments are
offered along with mainstream care, it is called integrative
therapy. That means you get can get safe complementary treatments at
your cancer treatment center without having to go out and find them
yourself.
How do I talk to my doctor about alternative
or complementary methods?
Many cancer patients are a bit afraid to discuss complementary
or alternative methods with their doctors. It's true that many doctors
may not know about the uses, risks, and potential benefits of these
unconventional treatments. This lack of knowledge can widen the gap
between patient and doctor when it comes to using complementary methods
along with regular cancer treatment. But this doesn't have to stop you.
You can help bridge the gap in a number of ways:
- Gather as much information as you can. Look for information
from respected sources that you can trust to discover the potential
benefits and risks of the treatment you are thinking about.
- When you share this information with your doctor, try to do
it in a way that shows you know that your doctor wants what is best for
you. Let him or her know that you are thinking about an alternative or
complementary treatment and that you want to make sure it will not
interfere with your regular medical treatment.
- Make a list of questions and bring it along with any other
information you want to talk about. Ask your doctor to be a supportive
partner as you learn more about other options and your treatment
process.
- You might bring a friend or family member with you to the
doctor's office to support you. Your loved one can also help you talk
with your doctor and relieve some of the stress of having to make
decisions alone.
- Listen to what the doctor has to say, and try to understand
his or her point of view. If the treatment you are thinking about will
cause problems with your medical treatment, discuss safer choices
together.
- Don't delay or skip regular treatment. If you are thinking
about stopping or not taking mainstream treatment, please talk to your
doctor about this. Remember that you may be giving up the only proven
treatment for your cancer.
- Be sure to ask your doctor if there are mainstream methods
for treating the side effects or symptoms you are having. There are
many supportive medical treatments that can make you feel better.
- If you are taking dietary supplements, make a complete list
of what you are taking and the amount of each. Many supplements can
interact in harmful ways with other medicines, so talk with your doctor
and pharmacist about your supplements and medicines. Report any changes
in your supplement use to your health care team.
- If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, ask about the risks
and effects of complementary or alternative methods. Never give herbal
medicines to children without talking to their doctors first.
What questions should I ask about
complementary and alternative methods that I might be thinking about
using?
Here are some good questions to ask about alternative or
complementary treatments:
- What claims are made for the treatment? Is it supposed to
help your medical treatment work better or relieve symptoms or side
effects? Does it claim to cure cancer?
- What are the credentials of those supporting the treatment?
Are they recognized experts in cancer and complementary medicine? If
you will be seeing a complementary / alternative practitioner, find out
about their training and education.
- Have scientific studies or clinical trials (tests in human
volunteers) been done to find out whether this treatment works?
- Have the findings from the studies been published in
trustworthy journals after being reviewed by other scientists in the
same field?
- How is information about the method given? Is it promoted
only in the mass media, such as books, magazines, the Internet, TV,
infomercials, and radio talk shows rather than in scientific journals?
- How much does the treatment cost? Will your insurance cover
it?
- Is the method widely available for use within the health
care community?
- What is known about the safety of the treatment? Could it
be harmful or interact badly with your other medicines or supplements?
- Does the method require that you give up regular medical
treatment? If so, will doing so affect your chances for cure? Is the
cancer likely to become more advanced during the delay?
How
can I spot fraud and questionable treatments?
Along with the above questions, use the following checklist to
help you avoid falling for fraudulent treatments. Keep in mind that if
something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. If you are not
sure, talk to your doctor or nurse before moving ahead.
- Does the treatment promise a cure for all cancers or other
serious illnesses? Be suspicious of claims that any unconventional
treatment can cure cancer. Claims that a treatment can cure all
cancers, or that it can cure cancer and other hard-to-treat diseases
(such as chronic fatigue, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, etc.) are certain
to be fraudulent.
- Are you told not to use regular medical treatment?
- Is the treatment or drug a secret that only certain people
can give?
- Is the treatment or drug offered by only one person or only
one clinic? Keep in mind that once a treatment is found to be helpful,
it will be used by other qualified professionals. Beware of treatments
only available in one clinic, especially if it's located in a country
with less patient protection than the United States or the European
Union.
- Does the treatment require that you travel to another
country?
- Do the promoters use terms like "scientific breakthrough,"
"miracle cure," "secret ingredient," or "ancient remedy"?
- Are you offered personal stories of amazing results, but no
actual scientific evidence?
- Do the promoters attack the medical or scientific
community?
- Does the promoter promise no side effects? Many treatments
promise to help you without causing any side effects, but even herbs
and vitamins have side effects. If the treatment is marketed as having
no side effects, it has not likely been studied in rigorous clinical
trials, where side effects would be seen.
If you suspect fraud, contact the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA). The FDA is listed in the blue pages of the phone
book under "US Government." Look under the heading, "Health and Human
Services." Or visit their Web site at www.fda.gov.
Will my insurance cover alternative or
complementary therapies?
Many insurance companies are starting to cover some of the
more widely accepted complementary methods of treatment. Many major
insurers, including Blue Cross and Medicare, cover one or more
complementary methods of treatment. Acupuncture and chiropractic
therapy are the ones most often covered. Contact your insurance company
to find out what services are covered by your plan.
If possible, get your doctor to write you a referral or a
recommendation for the complementary therapy you are thinking about.
Many insurance companies require that the method be shown to be
reasonable and medically necessary, and it may help later on to have
your doctor's recommendation. Insurance companies usually will not
cover methods that have not been proven to be helpful for the illness
or symptom you have.
It's your call
The choice to use complementary or alternative methods is
yours. You can use them more safely if you:
- Inform yourself from reliable scientific sources about the
risks and benefits of each therapy.
- Talk with your doctor about your plans, ask about risks and
benefits, and find out about possible interactions with mainstream
treatments.
- If you need a practitioner for your non-mainstream
treatment (such as for massage therapy), ask your doctor or cancer care
team to refer you to one who is reliable and trusted.
- Talk with your doctor before you substitute a
self-prescribed remedy instead of the medicine your doctor prescribed.
- Make sure that you are not giving up proven treatments for
an unproven approach.
- Watch out for signs of fraud or misleading claims.
- Keep in mind that most complementary and alternative
methods have not been tested for safety in women who are pregnant or
breastfeeding -- effects on a fetus or nursing child are mostly
unknown.
- Talk with your child's doctor before giving supplements or
other remedies to your child.
To learn more about any treatment, please call us to find out
what information we have to help you make your decision. Or visit our
Web site at www.cancer.org.
Additional resources
More information from your American Cancer
Society
We have selected some related information that may also be
helpful to you. These materials may be ordered from our toll-free
number, 1800-227-2345.
Along with the above, information on many different types of
complementary and alternative treatments are available at no cost to
you from the American Cancer Society. You can find them on our Web site
or request from our toll-free number as noted above.
Books
The following book is available from the American Cancer
Society. Call us at 1-800-227-2345 to ask about costs or to place your
order.
National organizations and Web sites*
Along with the American Cancer Society, other sources of
information and support include:
National Center
for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
Toll-free number: 1-888-644-6226
TTY: 1-866-464-3615
Web site: http://nccam.nih.gov
Memorial Sloan
Kettering Cancer Center
About Herbs and Botanicals
Web site: www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/11570.cfm
The University
of Texas MD Anderson Center
Complementary/Integrative Medicine Therapies
Web site: www.mdanderson.org/cimer
National Cancer
Institute
Toll-free number: 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237)
TTY: 1-800-332-8615
Web site: www.cancer.gov
For complementary and alternative therapy information, visit: www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/treatment/cam
United States
Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Information Center
Toll-free number: 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332)
Web site: http://fnic.nal.usda.gov
Choose "Dietary Supplements" from the left menu bar
United States
Food and Drug Administration
Web site: http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/%7Edms/supplmnt.html
To report side effects or other adverse events from a dietary
supplement, call Medwatch at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088)
National Council
Against Health Fraud
Web site: www.ncahf.org
Quackwatch
Web site: www.quackwatch.org
*Inclusion on
this list does not imply endorsement by the American Cancer Society.
No matter who you are, we can help. Contact us anytime, day or
night, for information and support. Call us at 1-800-227-2345 or
visit www.cancer.org.
References
Federal Trade Commission Facts for Consumers. 'Miracle' health
claims: add a dose of skepticism.
Accessed at: www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/health/hea07.shtm on May
22, 2009.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
About Clinical Trials and Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Accessed at: http://nccam.nih.gov/research/clinicaltrials/factsheet/ on
May 28, 2009.
Paula Kurtzweil. US Food and Drug Administration. How to Spot
Fraud. November 1999. Accessed at:
www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1999/699_fraud.html on May 28, 2009.
Last Medical Review: 06/11/2009
Last Revised: 06/11/2009
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