Alternative therapies for ovarian cancer
Could alternative therapies help my aunt with ovarian cancer that has come back?
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When a cancer comes back, or is too advanced to use conventional treatments, it can be very difficult to accept. Many people do look for alternative therapies. Below is information about why we don’t recommend the use of most alternative therapies. Complementary therapies may be a much better way to help control symptoms and improve your aunt’s quality of life.
Alternative therapies are usually used instead of conventional medical treatment. There is no alternative therapy that has been shown to work for advanced ovarian cancer (or any other cancer). Most alternative therapies have not been scientifically proven to prevent or treat cancer. Some may work, but there is often no evidence that they do. Some alternative therapists may claim to be able to cure your cancer with their treatments even if conventional medical treatments have not been able to cure you. The reputable therapists won't claim this. Some alternative therapies may be promoted by people who genuinely believe their 'remedy' can help. But very often they are money making schemes that take advantage of desperate people.
You can always find stories about people whose cancers have miraculously disappeared when they took alternative therapies. But anyone can claim this. But when the treatments are tested scientifically, they are never found to work. Some are even harmful. For example, laetrile, a well known alternative therapy, causes a build up of arsenic in the body.
Some people who promote alternative therapies seem content to rely on anecdotes. They say that stories about the occasional person getting better is enough to prove that their therapy works. But often people who get better have also been taking conventional medical treatment, so it is impossible to say whether the alternative therapy had any effect.
Scientists and cancer doctors compare new treatments with accepted and proven ones within a properly organised series of clinical trials so we can be sure of the true benefit of any conventional or alternative treatment.
Another important issue is that alternative therapies almost always cost quite a lot of money. Before you start taking anything, make sure you have thought about the ongoing cost. Some alternative therapies can cost hundreds of pounds a month!
And a final word of caution, just because a product is called ‘natural’ or ‘herbal’, doesn’t necessarily mean that it is always safe to use. So it is always best to check with your doctor before starting to take any alternative treatments.
If your aunt has had all the conventional treatment on offer, then it is really a question of finding treatments that improve her day to day life, and help to control her symptoms. These are usually called complementary therapies
People with cancer sometimes use complementary therapies at the same time as their conventional cancer treatment. This is very different to alternative therapies, which some people use instead of conventional medical treatment. Complementary therapies don't usually claim to cure cancer. They aim to ease stress and symptoms and help you cope with your cancer and treatment.
The most commonly used complementary therapies are
Many complementary therapies can help people to relax, sleep better, control pain and even help to control sickness. But they can be expensive to have regularly. Many cancer units and local cancer support groups offer these treatments free or at reduced cost, so that is worth trying first. Some GPs and health centres offer complementary therapies such as massage, aromatherapy, acupuncture or reflexology. Otherwise, you can look for a private practitioner in your local phone book or on the web. Do look at our guide to complementary and alternative therapies in CancerHelp UK. There is a checklist of questions to ask when finding a therapist.
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