What is Cancer?

Cancer is a class of diseases or disorders characterized by uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these cells to spread, either by direct growth into adjacent tissue through invasion, or by implantation into distant sites by metastasis (where cancer cells are transported through the bloodstream or lymphatic system). Cancer may affect people at all ages, but risk tends to increase with age. It is one of the principal causes of death in developed countries. more ++

Treatment of cancer

Cancer can be treated by surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, monoclonal antibody therapy or other methods. The choice of therapy depends upon the location and grade of the tumor and the stage of the disease, as well as the general state of the patient (performance status). A number of experimental cancer treatments are also under development. more++
Complementary and alternative medicine

History of Cancer

Today, the Greek term carcinoma is the medical term for a malignant tumor derived from epithelial cells. It is Celsus who translated carcinos into the Latin cancer, also meaning crab. Galen used "oncos" to describe all tumours, the root for the modern word oncology. more++

Nomenclature and classification for Cancer
Causes and pathophysiology
Cancer epidemiology
Diagnosing cancer

Coping with cancer

Cancer research

complementary and alternative medicine and cancer

A small number of CAM therapies, which were originally considered to be purely alternative approaches, are finding a place in cancer treatment--not as cures, but as complementary therapies that may help patients feel better and recover faster. One example is acupuncture. In 1997, a panel of experts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Conference found acupuncture to be effective in managing chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting and in controlling pain associated with surgery. In contrast, some approaches, such as the use of laetrile, have been studied and found ineffective or potentially harmful.

What is complementary and alternative medicine?

Complementary and alternative medicine is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. Conventional medicine is medicine as practiced by holders of M.D. (medical doctor) or D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) degrees and by their allied health professionals, such as physical therapists, psychologists, and registered nurses. Some health care providers practice both CAM and conventional medicine.

Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine.
Alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine.
Integrative medicine combines treatments from conventional medicine and CAM for which there is some high-quality evidence of safety and effectiveness. It is also called integrated medicine.

When considering CAM, what questions should patients ask their health care providers?

What benefits can be expected from this therapy?
What are the risks associated with this therapy?
Do the known benefits outweigh the risks?
What are the potential side effects?
Will the therapy interfere with conventional treatment?
Is this therapy part of a clinical trial? If so, who is sponsoring the trial?
Will the therapy be covered by health insurance?

Reasons People with Cancer Choose CAM

People with cancer may use CAM to:

Help cope with the side effects of cancer treatments, such as nausea, pain, and fatigue;
Comfort themselves and ease the worries of cancer treatment and related stress;
Feel that they are doing something more to help with their own care;
Try to treat or cure their cancer.

complementary and alternative medicine and Mesothelioma Cancer

Some treatments that are considered alternative can help alleviate some of the symptoms of mesothelioma. Many cancer patients, including those who suffer from mesothelioma, find alternative methods soothing, as they focus not only on the physical ailment, but also on the spiritual, emotional and mental aspects of the disease. Many mesothelioma patients choose these remedies as a complement to their more conventional medical treatment. Many patients find the focus on the ‘well-being’ of the body as comforting.

Research

NCCAM sponsoring clinical trials on CAM for cancer.

NCCAM is sponsoring a number of clinical trials to study complementary and alternative treatments for cancer. Some of these trials study the effects of complementary approaches used in addition to conventional treatments, while others compare alternative therapies with conventional treatments. Recent trials include the following:

Acupuncture to relieve neck and shoulder pain following surgery for head or neck cancer
Ginger as a treatment for nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy
Massage for the treatment of cancer pain
Mistletoe extract combined with chemotherapy for the treatment of solid tumors.

More…

List of branches of alternative and Complementary Medicine grouped in following categories

Acupuncture
Auriculotherapy
Korean hand
Medical Meridian
Sonopuncture
Acupressure
AlexanderTechnique
Ayurveda
Homeopathy
Naturopathic Osteopathy
Traditional Chinese
Unani
Bates Method
Biologically
Based Therapies
Apitherapy
Bates Method
Chinese food therapy
Fasting
Herbal
Macrobiotic lifestyle
Natural health
Diet and Food
Dietary supplements
Exercise
Naturopathy
Orthomolecular
Body-Based Manipulative
Body work or Massage
Bowen Chiropractic

Somapractic
Tantra massage
Thalassotherapy
Theta Healing
Tibetan eye chart
Tongue diagnosis
Coin rubbing
Cupping
Five Elements
Gua Sha
Herbology
Korean hand
Zang Fu theory
Traditional Japanese
Mongolian
Urine therapy Craniosacral

Osteopathy
Rolfing
Chelation therapy

pulse diagnosis
martial arts

Chromotherapy
Color Therapy
Colon Hydrotherapy
(Colonics)
Conscientio
Craniosacral Therapy
Crystal healing
Cupping
Dermovision
Dowsing
Deep Breathing
Ear Candling
Electrodermal screening
Energy diagnosis
Magnet therapy
Reiki
Qigong
Shiatsu
Therapeutic Touch
Eyology
Facial diagnosis
Faith healing
Feldenkrais method
Feng shui
Flower essence therapy
Functional medicine
Healing touch
Homeopathy
Bach flower remedies
Flower essence therapy
Isopathy
Homeo wave therapy
Hypnosis
Hypnotherapy
Integrative medicine
Iridology
Isopathy
Journaling
Light Therapy
Manipulative Massage
intuition
Concentration meditation

Mindfulness Transcendental
Vipassana
Mega-vitamin
Meridian therapy
Aromatherapy
Autogenic Training
Autosuggestion
Feldenkrais
Hatha yoga
Hypnotherapy
Neuro-Linguistic Programming
Pilates Journaling Light
Music therapy
Prayer
Rebirthing
Self-hypnosis
Sound Therapy
Support groups
T'ai Chi Ch'uan
Yoga
Moxibustion
Organic Foods
Home remedies
Botanical medicine
Pharmacology
Omega-3 fatty acid
Organic Diet
Orgonomy
Orthomolecular
Osteopathy
Plum blossom
Polarity Therapy
Psychosocial interventions
Psychic surgery
Rebirthing
Reflexology
Relaxation Techniques
Sclerology
Seitai