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 (see Safety concerns).
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.
→ READ MORE: Safety concerns about complementary therapies
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A/Prof Geraldine McDonald, Director Patient Experience and Wellbeing, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Laura Carman, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Victoria; A/Prof Christine Carrington, Senior Consultant Pharmacist Cancer Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital and Metro South Health and The University of Queensland, QLD; Kellie Giannarelli, Consumer; Dr Suzanne Grant, Senior Research Fellow, Integrative Oncology, NICM Health Research Institute, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Vivienne Hansen, Bush and Western Herbal Medicine Practitioner, WA; Karla Jaji, Administration Officer, Nepean Cancer and Wellness Centre, NSW; Dr Laura Kirsten, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Nepean Cancer Services, Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, NSW; A/Prof Judith Lacey, Director of Supportive Care and Integrative Oncology, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Adjunct Professor Danforn Lim, Western Sydney University and University of Technology Sydney, NSW; Dr David Mizrahi, Senior Research Fellow and Accredited Exercise Physiologist, The Daffodil Centre, University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW; Professor Avni Sali AM, Founder and Director, National Institute of Integrative Medicine, VIC; Gillian Thompson, Consumer; A/Prof Kate Webber, Medical Oncologist, Monash Health, VIC; Tanya Wells, Integrative Oncology Consultant and Naturopath, Melbourne Integrative Oncology Group, VIC; Prof Kate White, Professor Cancer Nursing, Cancer Care Research Unit, The Daffodil Centre, University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW.
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