In a search for less toxic therapies and improved quality of life, increasing numbers of patients are turning to complementary and alternative treatments. Complementary and Alternative Medicine refers to a broad range of therapies used both to treat and prevent disease. This holistic approach is the foundation of many of these therapies. Standards of care are set by government and regulatory agencies. In conventional medicine, an effective cancer treatment is defined as one that causes the size of a tumor to measurably shrink or remain stable.
Complementary medicine is used in addition to conventional treatments.
Complementary therapies can relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life for some patients. Other names for complementary medicine are holistic medicine and natural medicine . Alternative medicine is often used instead of conventional treatments. For more information, use the resources listed at the end of this chapter. Learn as much as you can from as many resources as possible.