Can complementary and alternative medicine help cancer patients?
The use of complementary and alternative medicine ( cam) has steadily increased, particularly among patients diagnosed with cancer. Complementary and alternative medicine include practices that are not typically part of conventional medical care, such as acupuncture, massage, prayer, diet, and use of biologic products 1, 2.
How can integrative medicine help cancer patients?
Help cope with the side effects of cancer treatments, such as nausea, pain, and fatigue Comfort themselves and ease the worries of cancer treatment and related stress Integrative medicine is an approach to medical care that combines conventional medicine with CAM practices that have shown through science to be safe and effective.
What is the difference between Cam and complementary medicine?
Some standard medical care practitioners are also practitioners of CAM. Complementary medicine is treatments that are used along with standard medical treatments but are not considered to be standard treatments. One example is using acupuncture to help lessen some side effects of cancer treatment.
What is the difference between conventional and complementary approaches to treatment?
Conventional treatment refers to mainstream Western medicine. Complementary approaches are practices used alongside conventional treatment. These approaches may include: 1 Mind-body practices: yoga, meditation and relaxation techniques, massage, chiropractic manipulation, acupuncture, hypnotherapy
What are the conventional methods used to control cancer?
Surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy alone or in combination are the most-common methods used to treat cancer.
What are the three main conventional methods of treating cancer?
The goal of surgery is to remove the cancer or as much of the cancer as possible. Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy.
What is a therapy that is used instead of conventional treatment Western medicine )?
Alternative medicine is when these approaches are used instead of traditional medicine. Examples of non-mainstream medicine include yoga, chiropractic medicine, meditation, and massage therapy. Few people use alternative medicine, and experts recommend against it.
What are the two methods of healing and treatment of cancer?
Some are "local" treatments like surgery and radiation therapy, which are used to treat a specific tumor or area of the body. Drug treatments (such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy) are often called "systemic" treatments because they can affect the entire body.
What is the most effective treatment for cancer?
Some people with cancer will have only one treatment. But most people have a combination of treatments, such as surgery with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. You may also have immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or hormone therapy.
What are side effects of cancer treatment?
Side Effects of Cancer TreatmentAnemia.Appetite Loss.Bleeding and Bruising (Thrombocytopenia)Constipation.Delirium.Diarrhea.Edema (Swelling)Fatigue.More items...
What are the advantages of Western scientific medicine?
An advantage of western medicine is that it is made effective quickly. Injured patients can go to an emergency room and find the cause of their medical problem along with the solution within a few hours thanks to the use of laboratories, X-Rays and other procedures.
What is the difference between traditional medicine and Western conventional medicine?
Traditional medicine, known as Traditional Chinese medicine, includes surgery, moxibustion, hot cupping, acupuncture, massage, herbal medicine and nutraceutical medicine. Modern medicine, known as Western medicine, includes surgery and most commonly single molecular drugs.
What is the difference between conventional and alternative therapies?
Alternative medicine refers to non-mainstream practices used instead of conventional medicine. Integrative medicine is health care that uses all appropriate therapeutic approaches—conventional and non-mainstream—within a framework that focuses on health, the therapeutic relationship, and the whole person.
How many types of treatment are there?
Three principal types of medical treatment Curative – to cure a patient of an illness. Palliative – to relieve symptoms from an illness. Preventative – to avoid the onset of an illness.
Which among the following is used in treatment of cancer?
Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells.
How does cancer treatment work?
Chemotherapy damages the genes inside the nucleus of cells. Some drugs damage cells at the point of splitting. Some damage the cells while they're making copies of all their genes before they split. Chemotherapy is much less likely to damage cells that are at rest, such as most normal cells.
What is alternative medicine?
Alternative medicine refers to treatments that are used instead of standard medical treatments. Integrative medicine is a total approach to care that combines standard medical treatment with the CAM practices that have been shown to be safe and effective. Although claims made by CAM treatment providers about the benefits ...
What is CAM in medical terms?
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is any medical and health care systems, practices, or products that are not thought of as standard medical care. Standard treatments are based on scientific evidence from research studies. Complementary medicine refers to treatments that are used with standard medical treatments, ...
Why do people with cancer use complementary methods?
People with cancer might think about using complementary methods for a number of reasons:
Using a complementary method is your decision
It's important to learn as much as possible about a treatment before you use it. But be aware that the information available about many complementary methods often includes less high-quality research than what is available about mainstream treatments.
What are the treatments for cancer?
In cancer treatment, there are several different complementary and alternative treatment approaches and the most commonly used are: 1 Nutrition and herbs 2 Detoxifying treatments 3 Chemical and animal-based treatments
Can complementary medicine cure cancer?
This isn’t something that should be believed in. The fact is that complementary and alternative medicine cannot cure cancer . The main problem is that some people don’t use the alternative medicine to support the conventional but in stead they ignore the conventional, proven cancer treatment and spend thousands of dollars trying questionable and ineffective therapy. Giving up on conventional cancer treatment that has been proved to help people with cancer repeatedly in clinical trials can be risky and even deadly.
Does coenzyme Q10 help cancer?
When you take coenzyme Q10, either as an injection or a pill, it may act as an antioxidant and stimulate your immune system, but no studies have shown that coenzyme Q10 has any effect on cancer.#N#Shark cartilage#N#Some people believe that shark cartilage stops a tumor's growth by preventing it from growing new blood vessels.#N#The process is called angiogenesis. Some anti-tumor substances have been found in cartilage, though, and shark cartilage has been used only in clinical trials.
What is alternative medicine?
Alternative medicine is when non-mainstream treatments are used in place of conventional medicine. This is fairly uncommon. Home remedies are also a form of alternative medicine, but it's important to understand the associated risks.
How many people use complementary health care?
More than 30% of adults use complementary health approaches. 2 Cancer survivors are more likely than non-cancer survivors to use complementary approaches. 3 In a survey of people with melanoma, more than 40% reported using complementary approaches. 4. People choose complementary practices for many reasons.
What is Reiki therapy?
Reiki is an energy therapy that may reduce anxiety and improve well-being. Hypnotherapy may reduce vomiting, pain, and fatigue. Spirituality and prayer may help with better coping, improved health, reduced anxiety and depression. It is hard to design scientifically rigorous studies of complementary practices.
Can melanoma be treated with supplements?
Among people with melanoma who use complementary medicine, nearly two-thirds use supplements or herbs. Herbal medicines or dietary supplements may interact with conventional medications. They may make medication less effective. They may increase side effects.
Does Yervoy help with cancer?
Some people use them to relieve symptoms of cancer treatment. Others find they reduce stress related to treatment or procedures. People with melanoma being treated with Yervoy® (ipilimumab) reported using complementary approaches to “boost the immune system” or “strengthen the body.” 5.
Do manufacturers have to conduct studies to prove dietary supplements are safe?
Manufacturers are not required to conduct studies that prove the supplements are safe and effective. If you choose to use dietary supplements, please discuss them with your doctor. Write down all the dietary supplements that you are taking and the doses. Review this list with your doctor or pharmacist.
Does it matter if complementary therapy is working?
On a practical level, it may not matter. If a complementary therapy poses little risk and it seems to be helping, that may be all you need to know.
Complementary, Not a Replacement
You may hear complementary or integrative treatments called "alternative." But they shouldn’t replace medical treatment for cancer. Nor should you use them to delay treatment.
Talk to Your Doctor First
Many complementary therapies are safe. But some could be harmful or get in the way of your doctor's treatment.
Dietary Supplements
You generally shouldn’t take these if you’re getting medical treatment for cancer, unless your doctor OKs them.
What's Safe?
Some treatments are safe and may help with cancer symptoms or treatment side effects. They include:
What is integrative medicine?
Integrative medicine is an approach to medical care that combines standard medicine with CAM practices that have shown through science to be safe and effective. This approach often stresses the patient's preferences, and it attempts to address the mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of health.
What are some examples of healing systems?
These are healing systems and beliefs that have evolved over time in different cultures and parts of the world. Some examples are: Ayurvedic medicine: A system from India in which the goal is to cleanse the body and restore balance to the body, mind, and spirit.
What is the NCI?
NCI and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) are currently sponsoring or cosponsoring clinical trials that test CAM treatments and therapies in people. Some study the effects of complementary approaches used in addition to conventional treatments, and some compare alternative therapies with conventional treatments.
What is CAM in medical terms?
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is the term for medical products and practices that are not part of standard medical care. People with cancer may use CAM to: Help cope with the side effects of cancer treatments, such as nausea, pain, and fatigue. Comfort themselves and ease the worries of cancer treatment and related stress.
What is biofield therapy?
Biofield therapy, sometimes called energy medicine, involves the belief that the body has energy fields that can be used for healing and wellness. Therapists use pressure or move the body by placing their hands in or through these fields. Some examples are:
What is standard medical care?
Standard medical care is practiced by health professionals who hold an M.D. (medical doctor) or D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) degree. It is also practiced by other health professionals, such as physical therapists, physician assistants, psychologists, and registered nurses. Standard medicine may also be called biomedicine or allopathic, Western, ...
Is CAM safe?
Natural Does Not Mean Safe. CAM therapies include a wide variety of botanicals and nutritional products, such as herbal and dietary supplements , and vitamins. These products do not have to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before being sold to the public.