Complementary and alternative medicine treatments (CAM) for cancer. COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE OVERVIEWComplementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is defined by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine as . ![]() ![]() For some CAM practices, there is scientific evidence that a treatment is both beneficial and safe. For many other practices, evidence is negative, lacking, or inconclusive. A large percentage of people with cancer use some form of CAM. Most patients who use CAM are not dissatisfied with conventional medicine but find that CAM treatments appeal to their values and beliefs about health and life. Being diagnosed with cancer and undergoing treatment is a frightening, exhausting, and demanding experience. CAM appeals to many patients with cancer because these treatments often offer a chance to take control, feel better, and decrease uncomfortable symptoms, such as pain, fatigue, and nausea. Placebo effect — The concept of a placebo effect is important to understand when trying to evaluate the benefit of interventions for cancer and cancer treatment- related symptoms. A placebo is an inactive medication or treatment. Well- designed comparative studies include a placebo treatment, as well as a . For example, a CAM treatment that claims to improve symptoms of nausea in 5. The placebo effect is not well understood but has a strong influence on the results of any research study, whether in conventional or complementary medicine. COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINEComplementary medicine is a treatment, practice, or product that is used alongside conventional medical treatment. It is not meant to replace conventional cancer treatment but is available to alleviate side effects or improve a patient's sense of well- being. Alternative medical systems — Alternative medical systems are healing techniques and beliefs that have developed over time and include homeopathy, naturopathy, and traditional Chinese medicine (which includes acupuncture). Acupuncture — Acupuncture involves inserting thin metal needles into the skin at specific points on the body. It causes little to no pain. Electrical stimulation is sometimes applied to the acupuncture needle. Biofilm Busting Protocol for H. A liver and gall bladder cleanse (or flush) can be helpful to help remove toxins from the body and increase energy. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is defined by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine as a group of diverse medical and healthcare. There have been numerous studies of acupuncture's efficacy in reducing nausea, pain, dry mouth after radiation treatment for head and neck cancer, and hot flashes, and results have been mixed. Chinese herbal medicines are widely used in many areas of Asia to reduce the toxicity associated with conventional anticancer therapy; however, little information is available from controlled studies regarding the safety and efficacy. Mind- body techniques — Mind- body techniques include practices such as hypnosis, guided imagery, meditation, yoga, biofeedback, and prayer. These techniques may be useful before or during painful or stress- inducing medical procedures, chemotherapy, or radiation treatment to control anxiety, pain, or nausea and vomiting. Patients of any age can learn mind- body techniques. Hypnotherapy — Hypnosis is a state of altered consciousness that allows you to focus away from your pain, anxiety, or nausea. You are not sleeping while hypnotized but are actually in a state of heightened imagination, similar to daydreaming. An expert can hypnotize an individual, or you can learn self- hypnosis techniques. Hypnosis is safe and has few side effects. It is not clear how or if hypnosis is helpful, although studies have suggested that it may be useful for controlling pain and nausea/vomiting in various settings and may reduce vomiting that can develop before starting chemotherapy (called anticipatory emesis). One study examined the benefit of hypnosis before surgery for breast cancer . Ovarian cancer has been dubbed They found that women who had a 1. It is not clear whether some of these benefits represent placebo effects. Hypnosis may also be useful in children for preventing anxiety and pain from difficult procedures, such as lumbar puncture (spinal tap) or bone marrow biopsy. Visual or guided imagery — Visual or guided imagery is a technique that encourages the patient to relax by focusing on calming thoughts or experiences. You sit or lie in a comfortable position while imagining a pleasant experience, such as relaxing on the beach. In one study, women receiving chemotherapy for newly diagnosed breast cancer had a better quality of life if they used relaxation training and guided imagery, as compared with a group that had chemotherapy alone . Researchers found that spirituality, when combined with conventional medicine, was an important component in the healing process and was of benefit not only to the patient but also to caregivers and healthcare professionals . ![]() ![]() There are several types of massage therapy. It reduces tension and increases blood flow. It found that pain, anxiety, fatigue, and nausea decreased by 5. Some patients reported benefits lasting up to 4. A small number of insurance companies cover massage therapy as a complementary cancer treatment. Energy therapies — Energy therapies involve using assumed energy fields to heal and maintain wellness. Believers in energy medicine describe disruptions in the energy field as a cause for illness and teach that balancing energy can aid in healing. It is difficult to study the effectiveness of energy medicine due to the intangible nature of the body's . Some, but not all, trials showed positive results, although the studies showing benefit were not well designed, and it is difficult to distinguish the true benefit from placebo effect. ALTERNATIVE CANCER TREATMENTSAlternative cancer treatments (ACTs) are usually promoted as replacements to conventional cancer treatments. Cancer patients may seek them out in the hope of a cure. Some ACTs require the patient to receive treatment at their clinics, often located outside the United States. In many cases, reliable clinical trials have found these treatments ineffective or unsafe, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not given approval for these treatments inside the United States. Dietary ACTs — Good nutrition is important for cancer patients. However, none of the dietary ACTs are proven to prolong life or cure cancer. In addition, some alternative cancer diet treatments are costly and potentially harmful. Gerson regimen — The Gerson regimen requires an organic, vegetarian diet and includes a strict schedule for ingesting juice made from fruits and vegetables. In addition, patients are given a number of vitamin supplements. No clinical study has proven this regimen's efficacy. It is not recommended and may be expensive and harmful. Macrobiotic diets — Macrobiotic diets are low- fat, vegetarian diets that include large amounts of complex carbohydrates. One report found that one- third of cancer patients who followed a macrobiotic diet lost weight, which resulted in other problems . This was likely due to several factors, including the expense or inaccessibility of some of the required foods, time spent preparing the meals, and the restrictive, sometimes unpleasant, nature of the diet. Macrobiotic diets are not recommended for people with cancer. Selected vegetables — Selected vegetables (SV), also called Sun's Soup, is a blended, boiled, and freeze- dried product that claims to have immune- stimulatory and anticancer properties. Two small studies have been conducted in patients with late- stage non- small cell lung cancer, both of which found that patients who received the supplement had an improved survival. Patients in both studies received conventional medical treatments, as well as the SV mix. However, the studies were small and had weaknesses in study design; further studies are needed before the treatment can be considered safe and effective. Herbal medicine — Combinations of herbs (also called botanicals) are often promoted as ACTs. Herbal medicines may come in the form of a powder, liquid, or pill. Examples of herbal treatments include essiac, ginseng, green tea, Flor Essence tea, mistletoe, PC- SPES (a mixture of herbs marketed for prostate cancer, now recalled due to an increased risk of blood clots), sho- saik- to, and St. John's wort . In addition, some herbal products (particularly St. John's wort) can interact with conventional cancer treatments, making conventional treatments less effective . These include coenzyme Q1. No supplement has proven reliable as either an alternative or complement to conventional cancer treatment . Supplements and herbal medicines you can buy without a prescription can be expensive, and sometimes they are found to contain unsafe ingredients. Be skeptical of any product that claims to be a . Talk to your doctor before you spend money on these treatments. PATIENTS CONSIDERING CAMGeneral recommendations — Anyone who is considering use of a complementary, alternative, or conventional medical treatment should gather information about the safety, risks, and benefits of the treatment. Reliable information sources include the healthcare team (clinician, nurse, dietitian) and government- sponsored websites. It is important to choose the person providing CAM with care; you should inquire about education and licensing requirements since these vary by state. The safety of CAM treatments should be considered. A patient or family who uses its life's savings for an unproven ? Is it approved in the United States? Because CAM treatments are not generally tested for use in combination with standard chemotherapy, they could interfere with the beneficial effect of the chemotherapy or potentially increase the risk of toxic side effects. Refusing or delaying conventional treatments — Patients should be very careful about refusing or delaying conventional treatment in order to receive CAM treatment instead. A recent study showed that women with breast cancer who refused or delayed surgery in favor of CAM were much more likely to have cancer progression and to die of their disease than they would have been had they undergone immediate surgery.
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