An overview of alternate therapies chosen by patients with cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To present an overview of and biomedical perspective on alternate cancer therapies used by patients with cancer.


METHODS
Medical, nursing, and pharmacy literature.


RESULTS
Two recent studies reported on patients choosing alternate care products with limited and anecdotal information obtained from the lay literature and their social group. Yet, the biomedical community has access to numerous excellent studies, documentation resources, and commentaries related to alternate therapies.


CONCLUSIONS
Provision of known biomedical information related to alternate therapies would provide patients with an opportunity to make informed healthcare choices.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses, using information from biomedical sources, can serve as informational resources for patients with cancer making healthcare decisions.
Montbriand
M J
MJ
College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon.
D000529:Complementary Therapies; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*