Complementary Medicine in Palliative Care and Cancer Symptom Management

Abstract

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among cancer patients varies according to geographical area, gender, and disease diagnosis. The prevalence of CAM use among cancer patients in the United States has been estimated to be between 7% and 54%. Most cancer patients use CAM with the hope of boosting the immune system, relieving pain, and controlling side effects related to disease or treatment. Only a minority of patients include CAM in the treatment plan with curative intent. This review article focuses on practices belonging to the CAM domains of mind-body medicine, CAM botanicals, manipulative practices, and energy medicine, because they are widely used as complementary approaches to palliative cancer care and cancer symptom management. In the area of cancer symptom management, auricular acupuncture, therapeutic touch, and hypnosis may help to manage cancer pain. Music therapy, massage, and hypnosis may have an effect on anxiety, and both acupuncture and massage may have a therapeutic role in cancer fatigue. Acupuncture and selected botanicals may reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea and emesis, and hypnosis and guided imagery may be beneficial in anticipatory nausea and vomiting. Transcendental meditation and the mindfulness-based stress reduction can play a role in the management of depressed mood and anxiety. Black cohosh and phytoestrogen-rich foods may reduce vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women. Most CAM approaches to the treatment of cancer are safe when used by a CAM practitioner experienced in the treatment of cancer patients. The potential for many commonly used botanical to interact with prescription drugs continues to be a concern. Botanicals should be used with caution by cancer patients and only under the guidance of an oncologist knowledgeable in their use.

A Systematic Literature Review of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Prevalence in EU

“…More than half of all breast cancer patients and up to 90% of people with chronic benign conditions, such as arthritis, use some CAM [5]. CAM is often used as a mechanism for minimising the use of conventional drugs and is frequently purchased over the counter (OTC) as a medicine in chronic disease.…”

Effects of Creative Arts Therapies on Psychological Symptoms and Quality of Life in Patients With Cancer

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] Various CAM therapies have improved psychological symptoms frequently associated with cancer and cancer treatment, including cancer-related fatigue, 8 pain, 9 and symptoms of anxiety and depression. 10,11 Creative arts therapies (CATs), including music therapy, [12][13][14] dance/movement therapy, [15][16][17][18] and various forms of art therapy, [19][20][21] have received less empirical attention than other CAM therapies more commonly used among adults, such as vitamin and nonvitamin supplements and mind-body therapies. 1 Although CAT research has been predominately qualitative, clinical research on CAT has expanded from purely observational science to a wider, cross-disciplinary approach that includes fields such as neuropsychiatry.…”

Acupuncture as Palliative Therapy for Physical Symptoms and Quality of Life for Advanced Cancer Patients

“…Studies that have investigated the use of acupuncture for specific symptom management in palliative care patients 30,42,43 indicate that acupuncture has not yet had an impact on clinical practice, though efficacy has been demonstrated in 24 of 27 randomized controlled trials. 30 Regarding the potential benefit of acupuncture as adjunct therapy, patients reported positive experiences both during the treatment phase and at the study's completion, as indicated by improved symptom scores recorded by the acupuncturists and patients' QOL scores from a composite self-assessment tool.…”