Complementary Therapies
Many cancer patients use special diets or dietary supplements during the course of their disease. These diets or supplements are considered complementary if they are used in conjunction with conventional therapies. They are considered alternative if they are used instead of conventional therapies.
Certain diets and dietary supplements may provide benefit when combined with traditional therapies; however, patients should use them with caution and under medical supervision. More research is needed to determine these therapies’ safety and effectiveness. Since many dietary regimens can interfere with patients’ ability to respond to cancer therapy, the use of all such regimens should be discussed with a medical professional.
At M. D. Anderson, we don’t necessarily recommend these nutritional approaches, but we do understand that many people will find them attractive or useful. To help you make informed decisions, we describe some of the most common ones – and their risks and potential benefits – here.
This material is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the advice of a health care professional. We recommend you inform your dietitian or physician if you are following any special diet or taking any dietary supplements. A registered dietitian, pharmacist or physician can talk to you about possible side effects and/or interactions with other medications. They also can take into account your individual circumstances, and help ensure the tools you turn to for remedy won’t cause you undue harm.
Common diets used by cancer patients
Common dietary supplements used by cancer patients