Complementary therapies: the American experience

Area of Science:

• Integrative Oncology
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) encompasses a wide range of health care approaches.
• Understanding CAM use is crucial for patient-centered care, especially in oncology.
• Prevalence and patterns of CAM utilization vary significantly across populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To differentiate between complementary and alternative medicine.
• To describe the current utilization of CAM therapies in the United States.
• To provide an in-depth overview of complementary therapies beneficial for cancer patients.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of existing data on CAM usage.
• Analysis of prevalence rates of complementary and alternative medicine in the general population and among cancer patients.
• Focused review on complementary therapies relevant to cancer treatment and survivorship.

Main Results:

• CAM use is prevalent, with significant variation in specific therapies and patient groups.
• Cancer patients report substantial use of complementary therapies during and after treatment.
• Specific complementary therapies show promise in managing treatment side effects and improving quality of life.

Conclusions:

• Clear distinction between complementary and alternative medicine is essential for accurate research and clinical guidance.
• Complementary therapies are widely used by cancer patients in the USA.
• Further research should focus on the efficacy and integration of beneficial complementary therapies into standard cancer care.