Abstract

Such “alternative” modalities are unproven or were studied and found worthless. These can be harmful Alternative & Integrative Medicine focused on the areas such as Ayurveda medicine, homeopathy, osteopathy, chiropractic, aromatherapy and anthroposophy medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, traditional Tibetan medicine, traditionalmedicine, complementary-therapy. An even greater proportion of cancer patients use “complementary” therapies along with mainstream cancer treatment. Most are helpful adjunctive approaches that control symptoms and enhance quality of life. Evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) is reviewed, and implications for oncologists are discussed. To encourage open communication of CAM use by patients, oncologists should be knowledgeable about the most popular remedies and know where to find reliable information for themselves and for their patients. Most research to date has involved a cross-sectional snapshot of CAM use rather than an exploration into the longitudinal, nonlinear treatment trajectories that cancer patients develop. Our aim is to explore and describe different treatment and decision-making pathways that individuals develop after receipt of a diagnosis of either breast, colorectal, or prostate cancer.