[Complementary and alternative medicine in pediatric oncology]

For many families of pediatric cancer patients the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is an accepted adjunct to conventional therapy, even if data regarding effects and risks are scarse. This report provides information about the prevalence of CAM use and reasons for CAM use among pediatric cancer patients. Frequently used CAM like nutrition (incl. diets and vitamins), homeopathy, anthroposophic medicine, phytotherapy, and acupuncture are highlighted, as were CAM bearing a special risk for their users. Physicians need to be more aware that a substantial percentage of their patients may use CAM without telling them for different reasons. Physicians need to be open-minded and should discuss CAM with parents. A differentiation between potentially useful and potentially dangerous CAM is necessary aiming at minimising the risks for CAM users.