CAM and Cancer
Cancer can seem like a hopeless disease. When faced with a diagnosis of cancer, many patients try multiple approaches to wellness. Half or more turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), trying everything from acupuncture to yoga to feel healthy, relieve symptoms, reduce side effects of treatments and treat diseases.

This online guide explores how complementary and alternative medicine is used in cancer and some of the questions you might be asking:

• What is complementary/integrative medicine?
• What types of complementary treatments might be used as part of integrative medicine?
• What should I tell my doctor about other therapies I am using?
• How can I tell if a particular therapy is likely to be safe and effective?
• Why can't I find clear answers on effectiveness and safety of specific complementary therapies?
• What questions should I ask about a complementary therapy or practitioner?
• Where can I find more information about the safety and effectiveness of other herbal or nonherbal complementary therapies?

Place...of wellness offers more than 75 complementary therapy program opportunities, most free of charge, to manage symptoms, relieve stress and enhance quality of life in tandem with standard cancer care. Place…of wellness is open to all patients and caregivers, regardless of where treatment was received. Read More.

Integrative Medicine Program provides structure and direction for research, education and patient care efforts in complementary and integrative medicine. Its mission is to conduct cutting-edge research examining intervention programs to improve the quality of life and clinical outcomes for cancer patients. Read More.

Complementary/Integrative Medicine Education Resources (CIMER) contains detailed evidence-based reviews of complementary or alternative cancer therapies as well as links to other authoritative resources. The scientific reviews help health care professionals guide patients in using complementary therapies alongside conventional treatment. Read More.

Complementary Medicine - therapies that complement traditional western (or allopathic) medicine, most often focusing on the mind, body and spirit

Integrative Medicine - the combination of traditional western (or allopathic) medicine and complementary medicine approaches

Alternative Medicine - therapeutic approaches taken in place of traditional medicine and used to treat or ameliorate disease

Complementary/Alternative Medicine (CAM) - an acronym used when describing the study or use of complementary and alternative medicine approaches

Additional Definitions - including conventional medicine and the five major National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) domains:

• Alternative Medical Systems
• Mind-Body Interventions
• Biologically-Based Therapies (includes Herbal/Plant Therapies and Nutrition & Special Diets)
• Manipulative and Body-Based Methods
• Energy Therapies

Tibetan Yoga for Improved Sleep - In a seven-week study, researcher found that Lymphoma patients who practiced Tibetan yoga reported better overall sleep quality and less need for medication.
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QuickTime: 256K / 56K

Shark Cartilage - Researchers investigate if an unusual substance could slow the spread of lung cancer.
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QuickTime: 256K / 56K

Patient Power - Complementary & Alternative Medicine (aired 4/17/07)
With patients and experts we discuss how programs such as acupuncture and yoga are being used to reduce the emotional stress and side effects of cancer treatment and improve
Download / Listen

National Cancer Institute Supports Yoga Study

Relieving Symptoms with Acupuncture (Español)

Do Mind/Body Techniques Work? (Español)

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National Cancer Institute

Cancerbackup

CancerLinksUSA.com

U.S. News Cancer Center: Cancer & CAM