Are complementary and alternative therapies widely used?
Yes. Many CAM approaches are used by a large percentage of people in the general public and cancer patients. The 2007 National Health Interview Survey reported about 4 out of 10 adults used CAM therapy in the past 12 months, with the most commonly used treatments being natural products and deep breathing exercises.[2] One large survey of cancer survivors reported on the use of complementary therapies.[3] The therapies used most often were prayer and spiritual practice (61%), relaxation (44%), faith and spiritual healing (42%), and nutritional supplements and vitamins (40%). CAM therapies are used by 31-84% of children with cancer, both in and outside of clinical trials.[4] CAM therapies have been used in the management of side effects caused by cancer or cancer treatment. How are CAM approaches evaluated? It is important that CAM therapies be evaluated with the same long and careful research process used to evaluate conventional treatments. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the O
