Cancer Alternative Therapies

Summary

You have many choices to make about your cancer treatment. One choice you might be thinking about is complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). CAM is the term for medical products and practices that are not part of standard care. Examples of CAM therapies are acupuncture, chiropractic, and herbal medicines.

People with cancer may use CAM to

• Help cope with the side effects of cancer treatments
• Ease worries of cancer treatment and related stress
• Feel that they are doing something more to help their own care

CAM treatments do not work for everyone. Some methods, such as acupuncture, might help with nausea, pain and other side effects of cancer treatment. Talk to your doctor to make sure that all aspects of your cancer care work together.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

National Cancer Institute

Specifics

• 714-X (PDQ) National Cancer Institute
• Acupuncture (PDQ) National Cancer Institute
• Alternative Cancer Treatments: 11 Options to Consider Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Antineoplastons (PDQ) National Cancer Institute
• Aromatherapy and Essential Oils (PDQ) National Cancer Institute
• Cancell/Cantron/Protocel (PDQ) National Cancer Institute
• Cannabis and Cannabinoids (PDQ) National Cancer Institute
• Cartilage (Bovine and Shark) (PDQ) National Cancer Institute
• Coenzyme Q10 (PDQ) National Cancer Institute
• Essiac/Flor-Essence (PDQ) National Cancer Institute
• Gerson Therapy (PDQ) National Cancer Institute
• Hydrazine Sulfate (PDQ) National Cancer Institute
• Hyperthermia in Cancer Treatment National Cancer Institute
• Laetrile/Amygdalin (PDQ) National Cancer Institute
• Milk Thistle (PDQ) National Cancer Institute
• Mistletoe Extracts (PDQ) National Cancer Institute
• Newcastle Disease Virus (PDQ) National Cancer Institute
• PC-SPES (PDQ) National Cancer Institute
• Selected Vegetables/Sun’s Soup (PDQ) National Cancer Institute
• Spirituality in Cancer Care (PDQ) National Cancer Institute
• Time to Talk: 6 Things To Know About Massage Therapy for Health Purposes National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

Find an Expert

• American Cancer Society American Cancer Society
• Find a NCCAOM Certified Practitioner National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
• National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute
• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

Videos and Tutorials

• Anatomy of a Cancer Treatment Scam Federal Trade Commission

Related Issues

• Beware of Online Cancer Fraud Food and Drug Administration
• Cancer Information on the Internet American Cancer Society
• Dietary Supplements: What Is Safe? American Cancer Society
• Evaluating Complementary and Alternative Therapies American Society of Clinical Oncology
• Time to Talk: 6 Things to Know When Selecting a Complementary Health Practitioner National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

Start Here

• Cancer and Complementary Health Approaches National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
• Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Cancer Treatment National Cancer Institute
• Complementary and Alternative Methods and Cancer American Cancer Society
• Talking about Complementary and Alternative Medicine with Your Health Care Providers: A Workbook and Tips National Cancer Institute
• Thinking about Complementary and Alternative Medicine National Cancer Institute
• Topics in Complementary and Alternative Therapies (PDQ) National Cancer Institute

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Cancer Alternative Therapies National Institutes of Health
• Complementary and Alternative Medicine Cancer Clinical Trials Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Reference Desk

• Dictionary of Cancer Terms National Cancer Institute

Array

• Protecting Yourself from Cancer Scams

Journal Articles

• Cancer Alternative Therapies

Latest News

• Many Breast Cancer Patients Try Alternative Medicine First HealthDay