According to the American Cancer Society, complementary therapy is used along with standard or mainstream medical treatment. Some complementary therapies may help relieve certain symptoms of cancer, relieve side effects of cancer treatment, or improve a patient's sense of well-being. Examples might include meditation to reduce stress, peppermint or ginger tea for nausea, and guided imagery to help relieve stress and pain during medical procedures. Some of the methods, such as massage therapy, relaxation, and meditation that are now called complementary have actually been referred to as supportive care in the past.

Alternative therapy is used instead of mainstream treatment. Alternative therapies are either unproven because they have not been scientifically tested, or they have been disproved; that is, they have been tested and found not to work. They may cause the patient to suffer because they are not helpful, because they can delay the use of proven methods, or because they are actually harmful.

Integrative therapy is a term often used to describe the combined use of proven mainstream treatments and complementary methods. You may have heard the term integrative oncology. Some cancer treatment centers and clinics now offer this option for patients who might be helped by complementary methods.

The American Cancer Society urges patients who are thinking about using any complementary or non-mainstream therapies to discuss this with their health care team. The American Cancer Society offers a great deal of useful information to help you understand more about the safety of complementary and integrative therapies and think about whether and how you might want to use these methods.

Learn More>> Saint Joseph's Cancer Survivors' Network periodically offers free integrative oncology programs thoughout the year for cancer patients/survivors and their family members. Click here for a schedule of upcoming programs.

Learn More from the American Cancer Society>>

• Complementary and Alternative Methods for Cancer Management
• Guidelines for Using Complementary and Alternative Methods
• Dietary Supplements: How to Know What is Safe?
• Learning About New Ways to Prevent Cancer
• Placebo Effect
• Mind, Body, Spirit
• Manual Healing and Healing Touch
• Herbs, Vitamins ad Minerals
• Diet and Nutrition
• Pharmacological and Biological Treatment

The National Cancer Institute offers the following resources on the topic of complementary and alternative therapies for people with cancer.

• Thinking about Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Guide for People with Cancer
  Describes how to make informed choices when looking for CAM.
  
• Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)
  Provides information about CAM approaches in cancer treatment, how approaches are being evaluated, and current CAM clinical trials.

Notice: The PCC is a participating institution in the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine Pilot Study of Integrative Medicine Approaches to Prostate Cancer. This study is in collaboration with Georgia CORE (Center for Oncology Research and Education).  Always consult with your physician before considering complementary, alternative or integrative therapies for cancer.

Disclaimer: All links to other Web sites are provided solely as a convenience to our patients. If you use these links, you will leave the Prostate Cancer Center at Saint Joseph's (PCC) Web site. The PCC is not responsible for any content, materials or other information located on or accessible from any linked site. PCC does not endorse, guarantee, or make any representation or warranties regarding any linked site, or any content, materials or other information location on or accessible from such linked site, or the results you may obtain from using such linked site. If you decide to access any linked site, you do so entirely at your own risk. You should review the policies and terms of use associated with any linked site closely before using or submitting information to the linked site.

Last Updated: December 14, 2010 (RSH)