activities. When cancer patients look on these complementary therapies as cures, they may decide— or even be encouraged—to stop their conventional treatments. Some may assume that they no longer have to see their oncologist or receive chemotherapy . If that happens, they may lose their chance for remission or cure.
Immune-Enhancing Therapies After a long period of intense and well-publicized scientific study of the immune system , a number of unorthodox practitioners developed therapies aimed at improving cancer patients' immune systems. Several unorthodox approaches work toward this goal. One aims to stimulate immune function through injected vaccines. Another aims to enhance the immune system through mental imagery and attitude.
These therapies sound legitimate because they address an issue—the immune system—that is a subject of legitimate scientific investigation. Because the terminology sounds scientific and the rationale appears to be a great deal more accurate than it really is, it is important to understand some background information before evaluating these therapies.
There is some scientific experimental evidence showing that the immune system plays a role in the body's defenses against cancer. There is very little evidence indicating that the system is helpful against metastatic disease once cancer has developed. But there is no scientific proof that mental imagery or adopting a new emotional attitude influences the immune system in a way that affects the growth of tumors.
Many immune-stimulating agents have been studied in clinical trials . These include the tuberculosis vaccine, BCG, as well as a variety of chemicals that have been shown to stimulate immunity in animals. One immune
