Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Cancer Treatment
Alternative Cancer Therapies
Found this article in Parade Magazine and it gave good information about alternative cancer therapies. I summarized the major points.
More than 70% of cancer patients use complementary and alternative (CAM) medical therapies, according to a study in the journal Cancer. Alternative therapies may include acupuncture, meditation, supplements, hypnosis, homeopathy, prayer and religion.
Years ago alternative medicine was considered ineffective by the medical community and still today you will find some doctors who do not support that type of treatment. Most doctors though are willing to consider it. The American Cancer Society recently released its Complete Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies. The book is to be used as a reference book and details hundreds of alternative therapies including evidence of effectiveness and side effects.
Historical evidence indicates that most patients who use natural remedies are not using them as a cure but for help in handling the side effects of radiation or chemotherapy. Common side effects are nausea, stress, and harm to the immune system.
The Cancer Society guide also covers many therapies for which there is no evidence such as shark cartilage, enzyme therapy and electro-magnetic therapy. Some alternative therapies can be dangerous, according to the guide, for instance chelation therapy, oxygen therapy, and hyperthermia.
Supplements are also detailed in the guide. Medical doctors issue with supplements is that they may interfere with the way your body breaks down chemotherapy drugs. By taking some supplements you could decrease the effectiveness of chemotherapy and even worse create more toxins in your body.
The article ends by advising patients to discuss alternative medicine options with your doctor or oncologists.
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