Comprehensive Cancer Care: Integrating Alternative, Complementary and Conventional Therapies

Based on the findings of the annual conference co-sponsored by the Center for Mind-Body Medicine and the National Cancer Institute, a uniquely authoritative guide to the integration of conventional, complementary, and alternative medicines for cancer care.. }Of the 1.5 million Americans diagnosed with cancer annually, fully half will seek alternative or complementary care for their disease. Drawing on the studies and critiques of many of the world's most gifted researchers and clinicians, this book scientifically explores the most promising complementary and alternative therapies-and sifts through the often frustrating and confusing barrage of information and misinformation about them-to provide readers with the direction and help they need to create an individualized cancer-care strategy. A powerful tool for making wiser decisions and more sensible choices to both treat and prevent can cer, the book includes: o Reports on the most accepted and researched complementary and alternative practices, including assessments of their efficacy, side effects, and cost effectiveness, and how they can best be integrated with conventional care o Empowering advice for patients with clear action steps for speaking to doctors and evaluative guidelines for researching available treatment approaches *o Critical discussion of cutting-edge interventions-nutrition, Chinese medicine, herbal therapies, mind-body approaches, and energy medicine-that have undergone clinical trials and those which are now beginning to be employed. * }