The questionable cancer remedies now getting the most attention range from those that are based on misinterpretations of scientific data to those that are downright fraudulent. All are good examples of why cancer patients and their families must become educated health care consumers. The principles or concepts on which unproven methods are based must be reviewed critically so that their logic and accuracy can be evaluated.
Adjunctive Therapies Promoted as Cures The standard treatments—surgery, chemotherapy , radiation therapy and biological therapy—are all designed to remove or kill tumor cells . But cancer specialists and other doctors may also recommend other types of treatment that are not designed to kill tumor cells. Instead, these treatments aim to bring about some overall improvement in general health and well-being. They are often called complementary or adjunctive treatments because they are used along with the standard therapies.
Nutritional therapy, relaxation therapy, a focus on emotional well-being, the provision of effective support systems, yoga and so on all fit into this category. When used in conjunction with standard therapies, these are legitimate therapeutic approaches. They are helpful in recovery or rehabilitation .
But sometimes these adjunctive or complementary therapies are advertised as having the power to cure cancer on their own. Nutritional programs are promoted as dietary "cures." Relaxation therapy or imagery are promoted as essential to developing the right attitude that will make cancer go away.
