Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Some men with prostate 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 men 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.
Some types of CAM are expensive. Health insurance may not cover the cost.
NCI offers a booklet called Thinking About Complementary and Alternative Medicine:
A Guide for People with Cancer.
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 email to
info@nccam.nih.gov.
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