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In recent years,
interest in alternative cancer treatment methods has grown
tremendously. These approaches differ from the conventional
medical treatments and are currently under study. They
are also called unconventional, nontraditional, complementory,
unproven, holistic, or questionable methods. Views about
alternative cancer therapies vary greatly: believers have
great faith in them, |
claiming they can do miracles while non-believers simply dismiss
them as medical quackery.
The major appeal of alternative treatments to cancer patients
lies in the fact that, unless their disease is discovered
at an early stage, most conventional treatments cannot promise
cure while alternative therapies do, as claimed by the sales
people of these treatments. Some alternative treatments claim
not only to cure cancer, but also promise few or no objectionable
side effects, which can be enormously tempting for cancer
patients. Besides, alternative practitioners often appear
more sympathetic, listening and talking to their patients
more than the typical overscheduled physicians in busy managed-care
or oncology settings.
In general, these unconventional therapies not only cannot
cure, they have not been held to the same standards of proof
of safety and effectiveness as have the conventional drugs
and treatments prescribed by physicians. Some unconventional
treatments may even interfere with the effectiveness of a
scientifically valid conventional medical therapy. Some unconventional
therapies may also cause injury or infection or other kinds
of problems. What often causes so much dismay among traditional
practitioners is that unproven therapies sometimes steer people
away from scientifically valid treatments that would have
been effective if they had not delayed it.
However, despite the fact that some dubious treatments are
still being sold to the public, taking advantage of the desperation
of cancer patients and their families, some cancer doctors
and well-respected scientists believe that some of the alternative
treatments are worthy of serious study. In fact, some positive
reports of unconventional treatments come from the medical
community itself and some methods are being used in some of
the most prestigious cancer centers in this country. Some
unconventional therapies are beginning to take their place
alongside conventional treatments. These methods are usually
used to improve the quality of life during treatment.
In conjunction with conventional therapies, prayer, massage,
meditation, and yoga are some of the methods used to alleviate
anxiety and stress. Laetrile, holistic surgery, and ayurvedic
therapies are the most common unconventional therapies that
are used today. These are often called complementary methods.
Nutritional therapy focuses on an eating plan to help improve
the patient's well being, tolerance of treatment, and quality
of life. Support groups can be a valuable part of cancer treatment
because they can have a positive effect on the patient's overall
attitude. Some evidence also suggests that social support
may affect the immune system positively. Researchers are finding
that some techniques, such as acupuncture, appear to relieve
some symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and pain.
Before seeking alternative treatments, cancer patients are
strongly advised to discuss these with their oncologists and
ask the same questions about alternative therapy as they do
about conventional therapy so that they can make educated
decisions regarding their cancer treatment.
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