For Patients
PDQ® Cancer Information Summaries: Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Peer-reviewed, evidence-based cancer information summaries on complementary and alternative medicine
Are You Considering Using CAM? (NCCIH)
Assists in your decision making about CAM, including frequently asked questions, issues to consider, and a list of sources for further information
Learn about Specific CAM Therapies
Provides information on CAM therapies used by cancer patients
Frequently Asked Questions about Cancer and CAM
Provides answers to questions about cancer and CAM
Read Safety Warnings (FDA, NCCIH)
Provides safety alerts and advisories related to cancer CAM
How To Find a Complementary Health Practitioner
Answers frequently asked questions about selecting a CAM practitioner, as well as important questions to ask the practitioner you select
See also: 6 Things To Know When Selecting a Complementary Health Practitioner
Paying for CAM Treatment (NCCIH)
Answers frequently asked questions about paying for CAM treatment
Evaluating Medical Resources on the Web
Gives advice to help you decide if a Web site is trustworthy
Look Up Definitions of Cancer Terms
Defines cancer-related terms
For Health Professionals
View Summaries on CAM Therapies
Compiles evidence-based summaries on specific CAM therapies
Read Safety Warnings (FDA, NCCIH)
Provides safety alerts and advisories related to cancer CAM.
Sign-up for the Cancer Patient Education Network (CPEN)
Unites health care professionals for the purpose of sharing experiences and best practices in all aspects of cancer patient education.
Patient-Centered Communication in Cancer Care: Promoting Healing and Reducing Suffering
A comprehensive conceptual framework to enhance communication with patients/family unit and health care providers.
What does CAM include?
CAM may include dietary supplements, megadose vitamins, herbal preparations, special teas, acupuncture, massage therapy, magnet therapy, spiritual healing, and meditation.
Why should CAM therapies be evaluated scientifically?
It is important that CAM therapies receive the same scientific evaluation that is used to assess standard healthcare approaches. As CAM therapies are proven safe and effective, they may become part of standard health care.
How can I find more information about complementary and alternative medical practices?
NCI has produced summaries of the scientific literature for both patients and health professionals (PDQ summaries) and shorter question and answer documents (Fact Sheets) about certain CAM therapies.
You may also wish to contact the NCCIH Clearinghouse to obtain the fact sheet, “Considering Complementary and Alternative Therapies.” The NCCIH Web site provides helpful hints and questions to consider when choosing an alternative healthcare practitioner.
Can I come to OCCAM to receive an alternative treatment?
OCCAM is not a treatment facility and cannot answer specific medical questions. OCCAM cannot make referrals to individual practitioners or recommend particular therapies for patients.
Does OCCAM provide medical advice?
OCCAM does not offer personalized medical advice to individuals about their condition or treatment. Contact your medical care provider for answers to your personal health questions.
Where can I find information about a specific type of cancer?
Online: Visit the NCI’s Web site for information about specific types of cancer and clinical trials. You may also access the NIH Health Information Index, which provides a list of diseases currently under investigation by NIH or NIH-supported scientists as well as major NIH research areas.
By phone: Call the Cancer Information Service (CIS) at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) for the latest, most accurate cancer information. In the U.S., you can call the CIS between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.