Q: Someone told me I should think about complementary and alternative medicine during my cancer treatment. What does that mean?
A: According to the National Library of Medicine “Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is the term for medical products and practices that are not part of standard care.” Standard care is defined as treatments prescribed by medical doctors, registered nurses, physical therapists and other allied health professionals. However, the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine states that “the boundaries between CAM and conventional medicine are not absolute, and specific CAM practices may, over time, become widely accepted.” If a patient is receiving non-standard care in addition to standard care then they are receiving complementary treatment. If they are receiving non-standard care instead of standard care they are receiving alternative medicine.
There are three broad categories of CAM into which most therapies fall. Natural products can include vitamins, supplements and probiotics. Mind body medicine includes meditation, reiki, yoga and acupuncture. Manipulative and Body-Based Practices includes chiropractic therapy and massage therapy.
There are several reasons that people with cancer use CAM:
- Help cope with the side effects of cancer treatments, such as nausea, pain, and fatigue;
- Comfort themselves and ease the worries of cancer treatment and related stress;
- Feel that they are doing something more to help with their own care;
- Try to treat or cure their cancer.
It is important to talk with your standard care doctor before beginning CAM. Many patients worry about that their doctor will not approve, but many MD’s have become familiar with CAM and some might even prescribe certain therapies for their patients such as probiotics, yoga or chiropractic care. It is also important because not all CAM therapies have been proven to be safe, and even safe therapies can interfere with standard treatment. For example, some something as mundane as a vitamin or a certain fruit could cause a reaction with a cancer medication or make it less effective. It is also important to make sure you pick your CAM practitioners with care. Ask for referrals from other members of your healthcare team or look for CAM professional organizations.
For more information contact Courtney Britton, librarian at Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge at (225) 927-2273, cbritton@cancerservices.org , or visit the Resource Center at 550 Lobdell Avenue.
