Why people use complementary or alternative therapies

In the UK, up to one third of people with cancer (33%) use some sort of complementary therapy at some time during their illness. For some types of cancer, such as breast cancer, the number of people using complementary therapies is even higher at almost half (50%).

There is no evidence to suggest that any type of complementary therapy prevents or cures cancer. But people are very interested in using complementary therapies for many reasons, including those mentioned on this page. For some therapies there is currently very little research evidence to show that they help with certain symptoms – for example, pain or hot flushes. But more reliable research studies are being carried out and we are beginning to collect evidence for some types of therapy. For example, improved quality of life following mindfulness based stress reduction, and reduced chemotherapy related nausea in people who have acupuncture. 

Despite the lack of evidence for many types of complementary therapy, many people with cancer say they gain a lot of benefit from using them.

People often use complementary therapies to help them feel better and cope with having cancer and treatment. How you feel plays a part in how you cope with having cancer. Many complementary therapies concentrate on boosting relaxation and reducing stress. They may help to calm your emotions, relieve anxiety, and increase your general sense of health and well being. Many doctors and researchers are getting more interested in the idea that positive emotions can improve your health.

There is increasing evidence that certain complementary therapies can help to control some of the symptoms and side effects of cancer and treatments. For example, acupuncture can help to relieve sickness caused by some chemotherapy drugs and a sore mouth caused by treatment for head and neck cancer. It can also help to relieve pain after surgery to remove lymph nodes in the neck. There is detailed information about acupuncture in this section of CancerHelp UK.

When you are having conventional cancer treatment, it may sometimes feel as though your doctor makes all the decisions about your treatment. It can begin to feel like you don't have much control over what happens to you. Many people say that complementary therapies allow them to take a more active role in their treatment and recovery. You decide which therapy to use and how often you use it. Complementary therapies may also help people to feel more in control of their feelings and emotions.

One patient who used complementary therapies alongside chemotherapy and radiotherapy said

"I turn up for my appointment and someone injects the drugs into me, or shines radiation beams at me. Although I know all the staff care, I sometimes go away feeling very alone and not in control of my situation. But after a massage I feel less alone and more able to cope with things"

Many patients use complementary therapies because they like the idea that they seem non toxic and natural. They also appeal to people because many therapies treat the whole person, not just a part of you. This is known as holistic healthcare. This means that therapists look at you as a whole person, including your emotional and psychological needs, not just your physical ones.

Although many complementary therapies are natural it doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t cause harm. Some herbal remedies may cause side effects or interfere with your conventional treatments. In this section of CancerHelp UK there is detailed information about the safety of complementary and alternative therapies.

Another reason people may use complementary therapies is because they get a lot of comfort and satisfaction from the touch, talk and time that a complementary therapist usually offers. Doctors’ schedules are often so busy that they don’t have the time they need to deal with patients’ emotional and psychological needs. And they may not have had the necessary training to give that kind of care.

A skilled and caring aromatherapist, for example, has the time to make you feel cared for and so may help improve your quality of life. So a good complementary therapist can often play a very supportive role during cancer treatment and recovery.

Having a positive outlook is an important part of coping with cancer for most people. Even if your doctor tells you that your cancer might be difficult to cure, of course you will still want and hope for a cure. This is normal and often a very important part of coping with having cancer. Some people use complementary therapies as a way of helping themselves feel positive and hopeful for the future.

Some people believe that certain complementary therapies can boost their immune system and help fight their cancer. But there is very little scientific evidence to back this up. Some clinical trials are looking at how certain complementary therapies might affect your immune system.

Some people may believe that specific alternative therapies may help control or cure their cancer if they are used instead of conventional cancer treatment. And there are people who promote therapies in this way. Using an alternative cancer treatment can become more important to people with advanced cancer if their conventional treatment is no longer controlling the cancer. Understandably they may feel very anxious and desperate and hope that alternative therapies may save their life or help them live longer. 

There is no scientific evidence to prove that any type of alternative therapy can help to control or cure cancer. Some alternative therapies are unsafe and may cause serious side effects. There is detailed information about the safety of using complementary and alternative therapies in this section of CancerHelp UK.