There is a difference between complementary therapies and alternative therapies, although often these terms are used as though they mean the same thing. Sometimes you may hear the term CAM (complementary and alternative medicines) being used in relation to these treatments.

Conventional therapies are the treatments that doctors use as part of medical care to treat people with cancer. These are surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormonal and biological therapies. They are also referred to as orthodox treatments. These treatments are usually tested using scientific reasoning and research methods to prove their benefits and possible side effects.

Many people in the UK use complementary therapies regularly to maintain their health. Some complementary therapies have developed based on ancient traditions and philosophies, using views and experience developed over thousands of years.

In some hospitals and hospices in the UK, complementary therapies are used alongside conventional treatment. Most doctors are happy for their patients to use complementary therapies in this way. There are many different types of complementary therapy and it is not possible to describe them all here. However, see types of therapies for information on therapies commonly used in the UK.

Some doctors have been reluctant for their patients to use complementary therapies, because many of these treatments have not been scientifically tested in large trials by Western medical researchers.

More studies are needed to evaluate and research complementary therapies. These studies will help to develop knowledge about the best way to use complementary therapies.

Alternative therapies are treatments that try to treat cancer with unconventional therapies (not the usual medical or complementary treatments). There are various reasons for people wanting to try alternative therapies. Sometimes it is because people feel that conventional treatment cannot help them or could be harmful. The idea of having treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy (which can cause unpleasant side effects) can be frightening for some people. However, in early cancer many people can be cured with conventional treatments.

Some people use alterative therapies alongside conventional treatments or complementary therapies. It is perhaps worth remembering, that many alternative therapies have not been thoroughly tested. Or, proven to have any health benefits in the same way that conventional medicines have.

There are numerous alternative therapies. The benefits of alternative treatments are unclear as the research studies so far have not shown that they can cure cancer or slow its growth. Some alternative therapies can cause severe side effects, make people feel extremely unwell and some can be harmful.

There may be alternative therapists who claim that their therapies can cure cancer even if conventional medicines have not been able to do so. There have been cases in which false claims made about alternative therapies have led some patients to turn away from conventional treatments that could have helped them. Many alternative therapies are expensive. Some alternative therapies are very cleverly marketed so that when you read about them or are told about them, they seem to be very effective. The claims made about some therapies may not have been proven and may give people false hope.

People with cancer can be very vulnerable, especially if they have been told that their cancer cannot be cured with conventional therapies. There have been cases where people have been misled and harmed by promises of a miracle cure. However, no reputable therapist would claim to be able to cure cancer.

If people are told by their doctors that their cancer can’t be cured using conventional medicine, they may feel desperate and think that an alternative therapy is their only hope. However, if a cancer cannot be cured by conventional medical treatment, it is equally true that it will not be cured with alternative treatment. In this situation, some alternative therapies may do no harm, but some could be very harmful. The most well-known alternative therapies are discussed later on in this section, along with their possible side effects.

If the cancer can’t be cured, complementary therapies can sometimes play a part in reducing anxiety and controlling symptoms, alongside conventional medicines for symptom control.

If you are considering using complementary or alternative therapies, talk to your doctor for advice and support. Doctors are generally supportive of people using any complementary therapies which may help them cope better with their illness, but may advise against using alternative therapies.

Before making any decisions on complementary therapies, make sure you have all the information you need from your doctor. You can ask to have an initial consultation with a complementary therapist to ask what they feel their therapy can do for you. See tips on choosing a therapist and what to ask them.

You might find it helpful to take a friend or relative with you for support. It can help to write down the questions that matter most to you beforehand. You can then take time to decide whether you want to go ahead with treatment and think about what is the best option for you.

Our cancer support service can give you advice on how to find a suitable therapist and provides information on different complementary and alternative therapies, as well as support groups offering complementary therapy services in your area.