NSWOG Complimentary Therapies

Professor Stephen Clarke

Members of the NSW Oncology Group: Complimentary Therapies include complementary therapists, researchers, conventional health professionals and community representatives. Chair, Professor Stephen Clarke guides activity in the context of the best evidence, information and world's best practice.

What are the most popular complementary therapies used by people with cancer in Australia?

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In an Australian study of people with cancer, relaxation (58%), diet (57%), vitamins (53%), positive imagery (44%) and faith healing (30%) were the five most popular therapies. A smaller proportion of people used naturopathy, immune therapy, homoeopathy and acupuncture.

In one Australian study, seventy patients of the 319 assessed (22%) indicated they were using complementary therapies. The most common therapies chosen were dietary and psychological, followed by herbs. Seventy-five per cent of patients tried more than one therapy. [2] These trends remain prevalent among cancer patients today.

In International studies religious and spiritual practices tend to be the most commonly reported (80.5%) [1]. Healing (65% 8) [3], nutritional and supplemental therapies (62.2%) [1]) were the next commonly reported. When religious and spiritual practices were excluded similar results were found in studies from in the US and UK [1,2].

References

  1. Richardson MA , Sanders T, Palmer JL, Greisinger A, Singletary SE. Complementary/Alternative medicine use in a comprehensive cancer centre and the implications for oncology. Journal of Clinical Oncology 2000;18(13):2505-14.
  2. Begbie SD, Kerestes ZL, Bell DR. Patterns of alternative medicine use by cancer patients. Med J Aust 1996; 165: 545-548
  3. Downer SM, Cody MM, McCluskey P, Wilson PD, Arnott SJ, Lister TA, Slevin ML. Pursuit and practice of complementary therapies by cancer patients receiving conventional treatment. BMJ 1994;309:86-89.
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