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Home > For Patients & Visitors > Cancer Information > FAQs

FAQs

For Patients Undergoing Treatment - Complementary/Alternative Therapy & Dietary Supplements for Cancer Patients

1. What are complementary and alternative therapies for cancer?
	Complementary therapy is therapy used in addition to conventional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It is called alternative when it is used instead of conventional cancer treatment.

2. Can I use complementary therapy while I am undergoing conventional treatment?
	Many people use complementary therapy while they are having conventional treatment and this usually does not cause problems. However, it is important to tell your doctor what you are doing or intending to do. This way, you can ensure that whatever therapy you are undergoing or considering will not interfere with your conventional treatment

3. What should I do if I am considering alternative therapy instead of conventional medical treatment?
	You have the right to choose your treatment. However, do consider the risk of losing the benefits that conventional treatment offers. Do not make hasty decisions. Always discuss with your doctor and consider the pros and cons of each treatment before making a decision.

4. I read that alternative therapy can cure cancer. Is it true?
	You may have read or heard of people who claimed that their cancer was cured by an alternative therapy. To date there is no scientific evidence to show that alternative therapy alone can cure cancer. Most of these people may have had conventional treatment as well, often shortly before or at the same time as they were using alternative therapy. Conventional treatment can sometimes take weeks or months to work fully. Sometimes, the cancer is not cured but is still present or progressing although the person feels well in the short term. Most cancers show no symptoms during much of their course, but this does not mean that the cancer is under control. This is the reason doctors wait many years before saying that a cancer is cured. It is important to remember that people promoting unproven or alternative treatments do not publicize their failures, ie., the many people for whom the treatment did not work, or the ones who never returned to the practitioners.

5. Now that I have completed my cancer treatment, I want to try an alternative method to clear my body of the toxic effects of chemotherapy. Should I try an alternative therapy?
	Before making your decision, you need to know and understand as much as possible about your illness and the treatment. This will help you feel in control and make choices that are best for you. Look carefully at the alternative treatment that you read or hear about. Ask questions such as: What is the basis of the therapy and have the claims been tested? Where have the claims been reported or does it rely on personal testimonials as evidence that the methods work? How many people similar to your illness have used that particular therapy? What are the qualifications of the person prescribing the treatment? What are the successes and were the results published? What are the possible side effects? Can these side effects be prevented of controlled?

6. I am taking a lot of soybean products as they are supposed to be good for health. How exactly is it helpful?
	Soybeans are unique in their content of isoflavones, which are weak oestrogen-like compounds that are found in plants. These compounds compete with more potent estrogens for binding to estrogen receptors in breast tissue. In theory at least, isoflavones may inhibit the growth of oestrogen-dependent breast cancer via this mechanism. Similarly, soybeans contain protease inhibitors, saponins, phytosterols and other compounds that have been shown to inhibit cancer formation in animal studies: for example, saponins may reduce the risk of colon cancer by binding bile acids and fats in the colon.


		For Newly Diagnosed Patients - Causes

		For Newly Diagnosed Patients - Miscellaneous

		For Patients Undergoing Treatment - Complementary / Alternative Therapy

		For Patients Undergoing Treatment - Relationship & Sexual Intimacy

		Cancer Types & Treatments

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