Abstract
Background: According to the literature an increasing number of cancer patients demand for complementary therapies during their disease. Research has demonstrated that some of these therapies are effective and safe as adjunctive treatments in specific symptoms of these patients. Methods: The aims of the paper are to review the main and recent papers of international literature on the effectiveness of complementary medicine (CM) therapies on side effects of anti-cancer protocols and improvement in the quality of life of oncological patients, and to describe the integration of evidence-based acupuncture, herbal medicine and homeopathy treatments in Public Cancer Network of the region of Tuscany. Results: After the review of literature and the approval of a Regional Resolution, some CM will be introduced in Cancer Departments in Tuscany to additionally treat cancer-related symptoms and side effects of conventional cancer therapy: acupuncture for nausea and post-chemotherapy and post-surgery vomiting, pain, hot flashes of iatrogenic menopause, xerostomia; homeopathy for hot flashes of iatrogenic menopause and the side effects of radiotherapy; herbal medicine for cancer-related fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, mucositis, anxiety, and depression. Conclusions: The integration of evidence-based complementary treatments allows for an effective response to the demand coming from cancer patients and combines safety and equity of access in public health systems.
Highlights
IntroductionThe French study of Simon et al [2] reported in 2007 that nearly 28% of 244 cancer patients from 2 public hospitals used one or several Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), especially homeopathy (60%)
Numerous studies report that in Europe one cancer patient out of three turns to add-oncomplementary medicine (CM), called Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) or Integrative Medicine (IM), in combination with conventional therapies.According to Molassiotis et al [1] the use of complementary therapies in Europe varies from 15%to 73% and the most widely used treatments are homeopathy, herbal medicine and spiritual therapies.The French study of Simon et al [2] reported in 2007 that nearly 28% of 244 cancer patients from 2 public hospitals used one or several CAM, especially homeopathy (60%)
For patients suffering from advanced stages of cancer and surviving the first 6 or 12 months after diagnosis respectively, the results show that utilizing homeopathy gives a statistically significant (p < 0.001) advantage over control patients regarding survival time
Summary
The French study of Simon et al [2] reported in 2007 that nearly 28% of 244 cancer patients from 2 public hospitals used one or several CAM, especially homeopathy (60%). A study carried out in two Tuscan hospitals on patients receiving chemotherapy [3] reported an incidence of 17% (herbal medicine 52%, homeopathy 30%, acupuncture 13%) in the use of non-conventional medicine. Medicines 2017, 4, 5 therapies (5.5%); a high percentage of patients (66.3%) inform the physicians of this choice and the benefits they experience (89.6%). According to an Italian study on the use of CM in children hospitalized at the Institute of Tumors in Milan [5], 12.4% had used at least one of these therapies, especially to reduce the side effects of conventional treatments. Research has demonstrated that some of these therapies are effective and safe as adjunctive treatments in specific symptoms of these patients
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
