© 2005-2012 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). All rights reserved worldwide.
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a term used to describe a diverse group of treatments, techniques, and products that are not considered conventional medicine. A conventional treatment has been scientifically tested, found to be safe and effective, and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Complementary medicine is used in addition to conventional treatments; this approach is often called integrative medicine. Alternative medicine includes unproven therapies and products used instead of conventional treatments.
People with cancer who are considering a complementary or alternative treatment should first discuss it with their doctor, just as they would any other treatment approach, because some CAM therapies may interfere with conventional therapies.
About Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Learn more about CAM for managing the side effects of treatment, improving a patient’s well-being, and the risks and benefits of CAM.
Questions to Ask When Considering CAM
When considering CAM, it is important to first discuss all treatment options with your doctor. This list of questions may help gather the necessary information on the potential benefits and risks of a therapy.
CAM and Clinical Trials
Find out how cancer centers and government organizations are researching the safety and effectiveness of different CAM treatments by conducting clinical trials.
About Dietary and Herbal Supplements
Learn how dietary and herbal supplements are used in CAM and how to evaluate the safety of individual supplements.