Complementary therapies
On this page: Cancer treatments | What's the evidence? | Information reviewed by
This information has been prepared to help people with cancer, their families and friends, understand more about complementary cancer therapies. There are many reasons why people with cancer consider using complementary therapies, which are generally used in combination with conventional cancer treatment. They may offer you physical, emotional and spiritual support, reduce side effects from medical treatment, and improve quality of life.
This information provides an overview of the role of complementary therapies in cancer care. It doesn't include information about alternative therapies, which are used instead of conventional treatment. If you want to try complementary or alternative therapies, you should discuss this with your doctors and health professionals.
You may also like to read our fact sheet Complementary and alternative medicine: making informed decisions.
If you'd like to talk to someone about your cancer and its treatment and receive further information, call the Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20. You can speak to a qualified, experienced cancer nurse who is specially trained to listen and provide information and support. See our section on Help and support.
Cancer treatments
|
Type of treatment |
Conventional |
Complementary |
Alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
|
What is it also called? |
Medical, proven, orthodox, standard, mainstream | Complementary medicine, holistic therapies, natural therapies, traditional therapies or traditional medicine | Unproven or unconventional treatments |
|
How is it used? |
Used alone or in combination. The treatment you have depends on the type, stage and location of the cancer, your age and general health | Used together with conventional treatments | Used in place of conventional treatments. May be promoted as a cancer cure |
|
How it works |
Slows or stops the growth and spread of cancer and provides relief from symptoms | Focus on the whole person not just the cancer. May help people cope better with symptoms of cancer and side effects caused by conventional treatments | Not known. Using alternative therapies in place of conventional treatment could delay or stop the cancer being treated |
|
Examples |
Surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and immunotherapy | Acupuncture, aromatherapy, art therapy, massage, meditation, support groups and yoga - see full list in "Types of therapies" section | Microwave therapy, ozone therapy, magnet therapy, coffee enemas, Gerson diet, high-dose vitamin supplements, laetrile, shark cartilage |
|
Evidence |
Based on scientific evidence and successful clinical trials | Some used for hundreds or thousands of years but little or no scientific evidence. Research is increasing | Many have not been scientifically tested, so there is no proof that they work; others have been disproven in studies. Side effects are not always known |
For more information call Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20.
What's the evidence?
Conventional cancer treatments have been through a range of tests to prove their safety and effectiveness. New treatments are first tested in laboratories and then on large groups of people in what's called a clinical trial.
The strongest evidence comes from clinical trials that involve two groups of people. One group is given the new treatment and the other group is given the existing standard treatment. The two groups are compared. Results are published in medical journals whose articles are evaluated by independent experts (peer- reviewed). If the new treatment works better than existing options, it becomes the standard treatment. This process provides the scientific evidence for the treatment.
Although some complementary therapies have little, or no, scientific evidence to support their use for cancer, they have been used for hundreds or thousands of years for various ailments and conditions. Their effectiveness has been based on trial and error, and this
knowledge has been passed down by word of mouth.
With the increasing use of complementary therapies, many therapies are now being tested scientifically to see how well they actually work, and why they are effective.
Integrative medicine is when conventional treatments are combined with evidence-based complementary therapies.
Information reviewed by: Dr Vicki Kotsirilos, GP, Past founding president of Australasian Integrative Medicine Association, VIC; Annie Angle, Cancer Council Helpline Nurse, Cancer Council Victoria; Dr Lesley Braun PhD, Research Pharmacist, Alfred Hospital and Integrative Medicine Education and Research Group, VIC; Jane Hutchens, Registered Nurse and Naturopath, NSW; Bridget Kehoe, Helpline Nutritionist, Cancer Council Queensland; Prof Ian Olver, Chief Executive Officer, Cancer Council Australia, NSW; Carlo Pirri, Research Psychologist, Faculty of Health Sciences, Murdoch University, WA; Beth Wilson, Health Services Commissioner, VIC.
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