Common questions

Why do people use complementary therapies?

Many people in Australia use complementary therapies. The reasons they use them include to:

• manage the symptoms and side effects of conventional cancer treatment, such as fatigue, nausea or pain
• help manage or relieve stress and anxiety
• feel more involved in their care and recovery
• have greater control over decisions about their body
• explore non-medical ways to improve wellbeing
• help strengthen the mind and body during treatment
• improve quality of life
• include traditional or cultural practices.

What complementary therapies are available?

There are a wide range of complementary therapies grouped into different categories. Some may be available at your cancer centre, hospital or from allied health professionals (such as psychologists, physiotherapists and exercise physiologists) you see. You can also book directly with a complementary therapy provider.

Many Australian cancer hospitals have wellbeing centres that offer complementary therapies with guidance from cancer experts. However, not all cancer centres have a wellbeing centre, and many people access complementary therapies in the community instead.

Reading the Individual therapies section may give you a general idea of what might interest you. See Making informed decisions for information about choosing a therapy, a practitioner and the costs involved. Hospital pharmacists can also provide advice on complementary therapies and how they might interact with other prescribed medicines.

What does “integrative” mean? 

Integrative oncology is an area of cancer care that focuses on the patient with evidence-based therapies. It uses mind and body practices, natural products, and lifestyle changes from different traditions alongside conventional cancer treatments. The aim is for the best health, quality of life, and treatment results no matter what the stage of cancer care. It empowers people to be part of their care before, during and beyond cancer treatment.

Some doctors, nurses or allied health professionals work in this way and may call themselves “integrative” – for example, integrative oncologist, integrative general practitioner (GP), or integrative naturopath.

The meaning of “integrative” can vary. Not everyone who uses the term may be a trained health professional or have the proper training in conventional medicine, nursing, allied health or complementary medicine.

What are “whole medical systems”?

Many complementary therapies are part of what is called a whole medical system. In Australia, these include traditional healing practices, Ayurvedic medicine, reflexology and hypnotherapy.

These systems are based on ideas such as:

• a healthy body needs to be balanced physically, emotionally and spiritually
• sickness can have many causes
• the body has a vital energy that reflects its level of wellbeing
• the body can help to heal itself
• health care is usually different for each person.

Which complementary therapies work?

Cancer Council supports the use of complementary therapies that have been proven to be safe and effective in clinical trials or other scientific studies to help with symptoms or general wellbeing. If there is no strong evidence for a therapy, talk to your healthcare team about the possible benefits or harm it might cause.

Some therapies in this section have been scientifically shown to be safe and helpful for people with cancer. The health claims for other complementary therapies may not have strong evidence. However, personal stories (anecdotal reports) and, in some cases, a long history of use in traditional medicine suggest that some therapies may be useful for some people. Which therapies are safe and helpful can also vary depending on your general health, the cancer type and the treatments you may have.

What are the different categories of complementary therapies?

Mind-body practices

These are based on the belief that what we think and feel (e.g. stress, emotions) can affect our physical and mental wellbeing. And that physical symptoms can also affect mood and mental wellbeing.

They may also be called psychological techniques, emotional therapies or spiritual healing.

Body-based practices

These therapies work directly on the body and may be called bodywork or touch therapies.

Some therapies involve hands-on techniques such as massage or pressure. Others use movement to stretch and stimulate different parts of the body.

Energy therapies

These are based on the belief that the body has a life force or energy that can become blocked or unbalanced. Restoring flow is believed to support healing and wellbeing.

This energy is known as qi in Chinese medicine and prana in Ayurvedic medicine.

Therapies using herbs and plants

Herbal remedies or botanical medicines are used in many traditional medicine systems. They are made from the roots, leaves, berries and flowers of plants.

They may contain active ingredients that cause chemical changes in the body. They are usually taken by mouth or applied to the skin.

Should I tell my doctor about the therapies I use?

Many people with cancer who use complementary therapies don’t tell their doctors, often because they worry their doctor will disapprove. The use of complementary therapies is growing, and many doctors are now more informed about them and supportive of their use. Some doctors, nurses and allied health professionals are trained in complementary therapies and can give you information about them. Some cancer treatment centres also offer complementary therapies.

You may think that because a therapy is “natural”, available at the health food store or not a medicine (e.g. a massage), that you do not need to tell your doctors. But some therapies may not be safe or evidence-based. Some over-the-counter medicines, herbal supplements and vitamins that you buy from a pharmacy may cause reactions, drug-to-drug interaction, make side effects worse or interfere with the success of your conventional cancer treatment.

One study found that 25% of people having chemotherapy were using complementary therapy products that may cause harmful reactions. What they thought was helpful, may have been making them feel worse. This is why it’s important to only use therapies that are safe for you, based on your treatment, cancer type and overall health.

Talk to your doctors

It is important to discuss your interest in complementary therapies with your GP, cancer doctors and nurses. Let them know about any therapies you are using or thinking about trying. Your pharmacist can also check for any interactions between complementary therapies and cancer treatments.

Talking to your cancer care team about complementary therapies allows them to:

• consider your safety and wellbeing
• check for and discuss possible side effects or interactions with conventional cancer treatments (including medicines)
• suggest complementary therapies that may help your symptoms
• refer you to a qualified therapist experienced in working with people with cancer.

Your surgeon, medical oncologist or radiation oncologist may discuss specific concerns, such as not using particular creams or medicines at certain times during your treatment. If you are taking herbs or nutritional supplements, your medical team may suggest that you stop taking these before, during or after particular treatments.

Talk to your complementary therapist too

It’s important to tell all of your complementary therapists that you have cancer and what conventional medical treatments and medicines you are having.

Some therapies may need to be adjusted or avoided to prevent interactions with your conventional cancer treatment.

Ask your therapist what information they need from your cancer specialists. You can ask your doctors to write a letter outlining your treatments that you can give to any therapists you see. This can help to reduce the chance of side effects or drug interactions

What is an integrative oncology doctor?

Integrative oncology doctors or physicians are licensed medical doctors with experience helping people with cancer. They work alongside your cancer care team.

Integrative oncology doctors combine standard cancer treatment (e.g. chemotherapy, surgery, radiation) with evidence-based integrative therapies, such as mind–body therapies, nutrition advice, exercise and acupuncture.

These doctors may help you manage treatment side effects, including fatigue, pain, nausea, sleep issues and anxiety, while supporting your emotional wellbeing and quality of life.

Integrative oncology doctors recommend therapies that are safe, supported by scientific research, and are coordinated with your cancer treatment. They can develop a personalised care plan, give reliable information, and help you take an active role in living as well as possible during and beyond cancer.