About complementary therapies

Conventional medical treatments are the medical treatments doctors use to treat people with cancer. They include:

• surgery
• radiotherapy
• chemotherapy
• hormonal therapies
• targeted therapies
• immunotherapies.

These treatments cure many cancers. Even when they cannot cure a cancer, they can often shrink the cancer. This can help people live for longer or reduce their symptoms.

Conventional medical treatments for cancer are scientifically tested and researched using clinical trials. This means we know how safe and effective they are, and whether they have side effects. This is called evidence-based medicine.

In this information we also call conventional medical treatments ‘cancer treatments’.

Complementary therapies are treatments that people may use with, or as well as, conventional medical treatments. Complementary therapies should not claim that they can treat or cure cancer. People may use complementary therapies to help them feel better, physically or emotionally. Or they may use them to help manage cancer symptoms or the side effects of cancer treatments.

There are many different complementary therapies.

Some of these have been scientifically tested to see how safe and effective they are, and whether they have side effects. For some therapies, there is good evidence for their use in certain situations. But there are other therapies where it is not so clear. This is because:

• studies may be small
• studies can give different results
• other factors may be helping with the side effects or symptoms of cancer - this may be instead of, or as well as, the complementary therapy.

Complementary therapies should be used with conventional medical treatments.

In a hospital, complementary therapists may work closely with other professionals to support a person’s well-being while they are having conventional treatments.

There are many types of complementary therapy.

Therapies can be grouped in different ways. Some may fit into more than one group. The main groups are:

• mind-body therapies
• massage and other touch therapies
• acupuncture
• homeopathy
• therapies using herb and plants
• therapies using supplements or diet.

Many people also find talking, counselling and support groups a good source of support.

When choosing a complementary therapy, it can help to think about:

• what you would like
• how it might benefit you
• where the treatment is available
• any safety issues
• how much it costs
• where you can get more information.

If you would like to know what complementary therapies other people have found helpful, you could try the following:

• Ask your healthcare team about support groups in your area.
• Join our Online Community to read about people’s experiences.

We cannot advise you whether you should use a complementary therapy, or which therapy to use.

People use complementary therapies for different reasons. To help you decide what is best for you, it may help to think about what you want from the complementary therapy. You may want to:

• feel more relaxed
• get help with managing symptoms or side effects
• get help with difficult emotions
• feel generally better
• make a positive lifestyle change.

You may also want to think about:

• how much you have to pay, if anything
• if you want a one-off treatment, or to do something regularly.

Doctors are usually understanding if their patients wish to use complementary therapies. If you plan to use a complementary therapy, it is important to talk to your doctor or specialist nurse. This is because some therapies may not be suitable if you are having certain cancer treatments.

For example, some herbal medicines, supplements and other products can affect how some cancer treatments work. Just because they are ‘natural’, this does not mean that they cannot interact with a cancer treatment.

Ask your healthcare team whether the treatment you would like could:

• affect your cancer treatment
• make your cancer treatment less effective
• make side effects of your cancer treatment worse.

If you already use a complementary therapy, make sure you tell your cancer doctor about it before you start cancer treatment. This is especially important if you are taking herbs, pills or medicines.

Before using a complementary therapy, it is also important to tell the complementary therapist that you have cancer. This could affect the treatment or advice they give you. Some therapists may not treat someone with cancer if they have not had training to help them work safely with you.

It is important not to use a therapist who claims to treat, prevent or cure cancer with complementary or alternative therapies. No responsible therapist would do this. There is no medical evidence to support these claims.

Make sure you have the information you need about the complementary therapy you are interested in. Talk about it with your cancer doctor or specialist nurse. You can also contact an organisation for people giving the therapy. There are organisations for different complementary therapies.

You could ask to have a meeting with the complementary therapist. They can explain how they think the therapy could help you. You might find it helpful to take a family member or friend with you. It can also help to write down any questions that you want to ask before you go. After you have met the therapist, take time to decide whether you want to go ahead with the therapy.

Call the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00 for more information about complementary and alternative therapies.

You can also get information from library books and online. But be careful when choosing what to read or believe on the internet. Some books and websites make claims that are not supported by evidence. Others may be selling products to make money.