What are alternative treatments for non-small cell lung cancer?
Because non-small cell lung cancer has a poor prognosis with conventional medical treatment, many patients are willing to try complementary and alternative therapies. These therapies are used to try to reduce stress, ease side effects and symptoms, or control disease. Two treatments sometimes used are shark cartilage and mistletoe. Although shark cartilage is thought to interfere with the tumor’s blood supply, clinical trials have so far been inconclusive. Mistletoe is a poisonous plant that has been shown to kill cancer cells in the laboratory. Again, however, clinical trials with cancer patients have been inconclusive. Patients who decide to try complementary and alternative therapies should tell their doctor. Some of these therapies may interfere with conventional treatment. Source: The Gale Group. Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed.
