Increased Use of Complimentary Therapies in Conjunction with Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapies

The rates of cancer have increased dramatically over the last 80 years. In the 1930’s only 1 in 30 patients were diagnosed with cancer. Now cancer is our nation’s second biggest cause of death only behind cardiovascular disease. Now in the new millennium 1 in 3 people will be affected by cancer at some stage in their life.

This increased rate of cancer has lead people to search for more options and angles to help tackle the management of their disease. Complementary therapies in a wide range of forms are now common place for cancer patients. Complementary treatments can include nutrition, herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, aromatherapy, homeopathy and traditional Chinese medicine to only name a few.

Recent research has indicated that in 1998 63% of patients were using some form of complimentary therapies in conjunction with their cancer management. In 2005 the rate increased to over 76% of patients where 2007 over 82% of patients were using some form of complementary therapies, in conjunction which conventional cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapies. So as you can see using complementary therapies to treat your cancer can no longer be consider “alternative” as it is now becoming a mainstream modality. And in doing so the conventional medical models need to progress with the times and learn to accept patient decision to include their chosen complementary therapies in their cancer management.