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What is alternative and complementary
health care (CAM)?
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This health care includes therapies such as acupuncture, biofeedback,
chiropractic, herbs, homeopathy, massage, meditation, naturopathy, nutritional
counseling, and others which add to or complement conventional medical
care found in the United States. It is often referred to as Complementary
and Alternative Medicine (CAM).
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Are any of these therapies legitimate?
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Yes. Recent scientific studies have shown that certain CAM therapies
can be very helpful for certain disorders. For an introduction may
we suggest you visit these websites from the Mayo Clinic and the National
Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health.
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1) Complementary
and alternative medicine: What is it? (Mayo Clinic)
2) Complementary
and alternative medicine in cancer treatment: Questions and Answers (NCI)
3) Dictionary of
Cancer Terms (NCI)
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Does CAM replace regular medical
care?
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No. These therapies complement but do not replace conventional medical
care.
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Is CAM likely to help me?
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Yes. Some therapies, such as nutritional counseling or exercise, started
out as alternative and have become a centerpiece of traditional Western
medical care for cancer. Traditional health care centers have recently
been adding acupuncture, relaxation, and other interventions to their list
partially because of public demand and partially because they can be helpful.
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What do I do next?
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Read and ask lots of questions. Start for by exploring the web sites
above, Dr. Fugh-Berman's book,
and other sources to 1) learn the basics and 2) find the therapies
and local practitioners most likely to help you.
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Then, consult your physician, your pharmacist, and any other appropriate
experts (such as the Health Library at Presbyterian
Hospital Matthews or the Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER)
to be sure that any new therapy does not interfere with your existing treatment
plan. |
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