{"id":13614,"date":"2026-08-05T20:05:51","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T20:05:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alsuprun.com\/blog\/?p=13614"},"modified":"2026-08-05T20:05:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T20:05:55","slug":"cancer-and-complementary-or-alternative-therapy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alsuprun.com\/blog\/alternative-therapy\/cancer-and-complementary-or-alternative-therapy\/","title":{"rendered":"Cancer and Complementary Or Alternative Therapy"},"content":{"rendered":"

People living with cancer frequently turn to complementary and alternative therapies<\/a> to manage symptoms or side effects from treatment, though it’s important to consult your conventional health care provider first before trying these approaches.<\/p>\n

NCI is currently funding several clinical trials that examine complementary and alternative medicine approaches used alongside traditional medical practices.<\/p>\n

Complementary medicine<\/h2>\n

Many individuals rely on medical treatments that fall outside the realm of standard health care for relief, often known as complementary or alternative medicine (CAM). Complementary means these practices supplement standard treatment such as taking medication to combat disease; alternative refers to using them instead, like using acupuncture to mitigate side effects from cancer chemotherapy treatments.<\/p>\n

Complementary therapies (CAM) can provide patients with relief from stress and pain, improve sleep quality, energy levels and mood, as well as provide holistic treatment of their whole person. According to the National Institutes of Health, prior to trying any complementary therapy it is wise to speak to your physician in regards to its safety as well as whether traditional medicines could complement it well for your condition.<\/p>\n

Massage therapy, meditation, yoga and dietary supplements are the four most commonly employed complementary and alternative medicine approaches in the US according to the 2012 National Health Interview Survey; more than 9.5% of adults reported engaging in these practices. Other less popular approaches such as chiropractic or osteopath manipulation, Tai chi or music therapy also exist but may be less widespread than these practices.<\/p>\n

Complementary healthcare approaches may offer benefits, but their efficacy hasn’t been tested as thoroughly as traditional treatments. When selecting a complementary practitioner, ask about their education and training as well as experience treating your specific health issue. Likewise, make sure all practitioners — traditional as well as complementary — stay abreast of all medicines, supplements and health products you use so your treatment plans can work seamlessly together. Trustworthy websites offer trustworthy sources of unbiased information about complementary practices.<\/p>\n

Alternative medicine<\/h2>\n

Alternative medicine refers to practices outside of mainstream medical systems, including herbal remedies, acupuncture and chiropractic care. Many people turn to alternative treatments because they believe these practices are safe and effective; some practitioners even claim these practices can cure cancer or other diseases; however there is limited evidence supporting such claims.<\/p>\n

Many individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as cancer or HIV infection utilize complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies to ease symptoms and improve their quality of life. Furthermore, these techniques are intended to assist the individual cope with stress associated with disease and treatment; they do not intend to replace traditional medical therapies however.<\/p>\n

These practices may be very confusing to patients and their families, with names often differing and unclear definitions. Some practitioners use both complementary and alternative treatments simultaneously while others focus solely on one therapy modality; it is crucial for healthcare providers to be familiar with these distinctions between complementary and alternative medicines.<\/p>\n

Aromatherapy and massage therapy may help improve a patient’s mood and alleviate discomfort caused by chemotherapy and other cancer treatments, boost immunity and enhance sleep patterns, as well as reduce depression, anxiety and stress. Patients should always discuss potential therapies with their healthcare providers prior to beginning any such regimens.<\/p>\n

As well as risks associated with certain CAM therapies, some methods also lack biological plausibility or scientific support. For instance, certain practices involve belief in supernatural “energies” or superstitions without following standard research protocols such as placebo-controlled trials or blind experiments; this can cause misleading results to emerge from studies conducted using them.<\/p>\n

Acupuncture, for instance, is an ancient Eastern practice with some scientific support. Unfortunately, however, double-blind placebo-controlled studies are difficult to perform due to suspicions surrounding which group is receiving real acupuncture treatment and subtly alter results. Furthermore, certain of these therapies interact with certain drugs to increase side effects.<\/p>\n

CAM therapies<\/h2>\n

Many cancer patients use complementary therapies, like acupuncture, to alleviate side effects from treatment or improve quality of life. While not all therapies may be safe and effective, it’s wise to speak to your physician before embarking on any new therapies; do some research first if possible using scientific sources that back the claims made about them; even speaking with librarians from medical libraries may prove helpful as they can guide you toward finding credible information and research regarding each therapy being considered.<\/p>\n

Some complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices have undergone rigorous tests and are generally recognized as safe, such as yoga, meditation and certain kinds of massage therapies. Unfortunately, the vast majority of CAM therapies remain untested; therefore it remains unknown whether any may cause harm or interact negatively with cancer medications used as treatments.<\/p>\n

CAM therapies were not generally taught or utilized in hospitals until recently; however, their popularity is now growing more mainstream. Some CAM practitioners now work alongside conventional health care professionals and assist their patients in managing both conventional and complementary medicine therapies; this form of integrative medicine.<\/p>\n

Though most conventional healthcare providers support complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), some may hesitate to recommend it to their patients due to the untested nature of many practices or fears that these could reduce effectiveness or increase risks associated with conventional treatments or cause side effects.<\/p>\n

Although numerous complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies exist, there’s little proof they can effectively prevent or treat cancer. There is growing evidence of their ability to alleviate symptoms related to certain cancer treatments or side effects; such as nausea caused by chemotherapy drugs and pain after surgery to remove lymph nodes from the neck. Acupuncture has been shown to provide relief.<\/p>\n

Meditation, massage and herbal medicines have all proven helpful in managing stress and anxiety levels, while there is some evidence to suggest complementary therapies such as Reiki can also boost immune systems to fight off diseases more efficiently.<\/p>\n

CAM practitioners<\/h2>\n

Before recently, many complementary and alternative medicine therapies<\/a> were not taught in medical schools or used in hospitals; further research needs to be completed before definitive evidence can be presented for them as effective solutions. No matter whether or not you use conventional or complementary and alternative medicines (CAM), it’s essential to discuss all therapies with your health care provider in order to gain invaluable information regarding risks, benefits and interactions between therapies.<\/p>\n

When selecting a complementary and alternative medicine practitioner, research their education, training, licenses and certification. Find out if they have a practice nearby as well as their areas of expertise and philosophy of treatment; many professional organizations provide this information on their websites. Inquire also with healthcare providers – even if they’re unfamiliar with certain therapies they might know someone who can refer you if necessary.<\/p>\n

Studies have established some complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices as being safe and effective, making them acceptable as complementary treatments in mainstream medicine. Examples of such practices include herbs, supplements and certain massage techniques; others serve as alternatives, replacing conventional approaches like acupuncture with alternative approaches like tai chi, qi gong or yoga; others remain unproven and need further research before being implemented as cancer treatments.<\/p>\n

Conventional medicine involves treating diseases and symptoms with medication or surgery. It is practiced by healthcare professionals with MD or DO degrees as well as by other allied health practitioners such as nurses or physical therapists; conventional medicine is sometimes also known as allopathy, Western or orthodox medicine.<\/p>\n

Over the last 30 years, various forms of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) have been scientifically evaluated. NCI and other federal agencies sponsor or cosponsor clinical trials designed to test safety and effectiveness of various CAM therapies for cancer. Studies focus on an individual therapy or combination thereof while others compare them with conventional treatments.<\/p>\n