Int J Surg. 2009 Dec;7(6):499-500. Epub 2009 Aug 27.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and cancer: the kind face of complementary medicine.

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Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter & Plymouth, Exeter, UK. Edzard.Ernst@pms.ac.uk

Abstract

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a big issue for cancer patients who may feel tempted to use one of the many therapies on offer. In particular, alternative cancer "cures" are being promoted to vulnerable patients. None of these "cures" have been shown to do what they promise, and the very notion of an alternative cancer "cure" is a contradiction in terms. Yet CAM can play an important role in oncology, and that is in supportive and palliative care. Several treatments can decrease the side-effects of cancer drugs or improve quality of life in other ways.

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Int J Surg. 2010;8(1):81.

PMID:: 19716449; [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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