Cancer alternative therapy trend
February 3, 2005
A third of European cancer patients are using complementary
and alternative therapies, a survey of 1,000 suggests.
Herbs are used the most, followed by homeopathy and
vitamin and mineral supplements, according to European
Oncology Nursing Society members.
Given their popularity, governments should rethink
the way these treatments are regulated, they said.
Therapists should also be checked more rigorously,
the report in the Annals of Oncology journal suggested.
Dr Alex Molassiotis, from the UK's Manchester University,
along with European colleagues, surveyed nearly 1,000
cancer patients from 14 European countries.
About 58 different complementary and alternative medicines
(CAM) were mentioned in the survey.
Usage rates varied from less than 15% of patients in
Greece to nearly 75% in Italy, and averaged at about
a third overall.
Patients typically used more than one CAM therapy together,
such as a herbal medicine plus homeopathy or relaxation
techniques.
Dr Molassiotis said considering the growing popularity
of CAM, better regulation was needed.
"Anybody can call himself or herself a therapist
and practice.
"There is not a body to assess the quality of
therapists.
"There are societies that therapists can register
with, but it is not compulsory.
"There is a need for regulation of what is accepted
and appropriate training."
Regulation
He said there was also a need for clear guidelines
on which treatments work for which conditions.
"We have a responsibility as professionals to
look at this and be open-minded."
In the UK, osteopathy and chiropractic are already
statutorily regulated.
The Prince of Wales Foundation for Integrated Health
was given a government grant last year to look into
the regulation of other CAM therapies, including homeopathy,
aromatherapy and reflexology.
The Foundation estimates that about one in five people
are using CAMs for different ailments.
A spokeswoman from the foundation said: "We have
got to make sure people feel as safe as they can through
regulation and research."
Further research
Dr George Lewith, from the of the University of Southampton's
Complementary Medicine Research Unit, cautioned that
the study was too small to be able to make generalisations
about rates of CAM use, but said there was no doubt
that regulation was needed.
Dr Bob Leckridge president of the Faculty of Homeopathy,
said many therapists were doctors, which meant they
were regulated as an individual.
He thought all CAM practice should be subject to statutory
regulation.
Dr Sosie Kassab from the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital
said: "Therapies such as homeopathy can be useful
as an adjunct to conventional care.
"Patients do say they benefit. We need further
research into this."
Professor John Toy of Cancer Research UK said: "The
National Cancer Research Institute has recently established
a complementary therapies development group, showing
the medical profession does not have a dismissive view
of this topic."
He advised cancer patients to inform their doctors
of all medications and therapies they were taking.
Source:http://news.bbc.co.uk
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