Complementary & unproven therapies

Sunday 28 February, 2010

Complementary therapies

These are therapies used with conventional cancer treatment. Common examples are relaxation, meditation, hypnosis, guided imagery, massage, distraction methods and acupuncture.

While these therapies haven't been scientifically proven to treat or cure cancer, some have been shown to help some people cope better with cancer and its treatments.

They may increase a person's sense of personal control, reduce feelings of helplessness, decrease stress and anxiety and elevate mood. Some complementary therapies may help in managing symptoms caused by cancer or cancer treatments.

For example, acupuncture may help relieve pain or nausea from chemotherapy.

Complementary therapies can be coordinated with other treatment. For example, palliative care treatment can be arranged to include complementary therapies.

If the person with cancer is interested in complementary therapies, talk to the doctors or nurses or contact the Cancer Council Helpline. They will have reliable information about these therapies.

Unproven remedies

The person with advanced cancer may want to try unproven remedies.

Unproven remedies are treatments that haven't been tested in clinical trials or scientifically proven to be effective. Many are promoted in books or through the Internet to people with cancer. They include magnets, diets from which a whole food group is removed or a supplement or supplements added, coffee enemas, fresh cell therapy, microwave therapy, oxygen therapy and laetrile and other plant products as well as different types of healing practices.

Unfortunately, some unproven remedies can be harmful, for example taking high-dose vitamins while having some chemotherapy or eating a diet that takes out foods that are important for your health and wellbeing. Unproven remedies:

  • can be very expensive
  • sometimes require people to travel to other countries or interstate
  • may waste time, money and energy
  • can be physically stressful
  • may require major changes in lifestyle.

Some people spend a lot of time and money pursuing unproven remedies which turn out not to work. Afterwards, they often regret the time they lost.

Sometimes practitioners of unproven remedies make people feel guilty when their treatment doesn't work. This is unjustified and unhelpful and a clear sign that you should not continue with that practitioner.

Question all information you read or are given about cancer ‘cures'. Ask questions, verify claims, seek supporting information and be sure that the practitioner is qualified and trustworthy. One or two books by people who deliver a certain treatment is not strong evidence.

Look for articles in recognised medical or scientific journals. Recognised medical journals are listed in PubMed, an international database of biomedical journals. You can obtain information about different types of treatment on the Internet. See:

Alternatively, call the Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20.

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