What is known about the benefits of complementary therapies for cancer?
Many patients report positive effects from complementary therapies and this is supported by their heavy financial investment in them. Clinical trials need to be undertaken on a range of therapies for people with cancer. In Australian cancer patients 4) the most frequently given reasons for their use of therapies were a preference for natural therapy and seeing the complementary therapies as another source of hope. Many people find these therapies provide improvement in their quality of life. Several surveys have been conducted assessing the use of complementary therapies by people with cancer. Research over the last decade shows that of the people who survive cancer: • 25% found acupuncture helpful; • 31% found hypnotherapy helpful; and • 69% found meditation, relaxation or visual imagery helpful. And of the palliative cancer patients: • 58% found acupuncture helpful; • 46% found hypnotherapy helpful; and • 82% found meditation, relaxation or visual imagery helpful.
