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Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Some people with cancer use
complementary and alternative medicine (CAM):
- An approach is generally called complementary medicine when it is used along with standard treatment.
- An approach is called alternative medicine when it is used instead of standard treatment.
Acupuncture,
massage therapy, herbal products, vitamins or special diets, visualization, meditation, and spiritual healing are types of CAM.
Many people say that CAM helps them feel better. However, some types of CAM may change the way standard treatment works. These changes could be harmful. And some types of CAM could be harmful even if used alone. Before trying any type of CAM, you should discuss its possible benefits and risks with your doctor.
Some types of CAM are expensive. Health insurance may not cover the cost.
NCI offers a booklet called
Thinking About Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
You also may request materials from the Federal Government's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. You can reach their clearinghouse toll-free at
1-888-644-6226 (voice) and 1-866-464-3615 (TTY). In addition, you can visit the Center's Web site at
http://www.nccam.nih.gov, or send an e-mail to
info@nccam.nih.gov.
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You may want to ask your doctor these questions about CAM:
- What benefits can I expect from this approach?
- What are its risks?
- Do the expected benefits outweigh the risks?
- What side effects should I watch for?
- Will CAM change the way my cancer treatment works? Could this be harmful?
- Is this approach under study in a clinical trial? If so, who sponsors the trial?
- Will my health insurance pay for this approach?
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