Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and supportive care in cancer: a synopsis of research perspectives and contributions by an interdisciplinary team.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this short review is to provide a commonly accepted definition of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), to illustrate the widespread use of CAM by people affected by cancer around the world, and to highlight the research contributions of the Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CCAM) research team and its colleagues.


METHODS
Based on research conducted by CCAM and several European colleagues, a collection of articles was compiled, reviewed, and edited.


RESULTS
CAM modalities play a role in supportive care and cancer. Because of the high CAM utilization, it is critical to help cancer patients make safe, informed, evidence-based decisions for their care. In addition, advances in research methodology, outcomes, and measurement in CAM studies are suggested to better account for individual and collective experiences.


CONCLUSIONS
This special issue provides clinicians with a summary of information about CAM and perspectives for better responding to cancer patient's needs.
Leis
Anne
A
Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, 107 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. anne.leis@usask.ca
Millard
Jennifer
J
D000529:Complementary Therapies; D005060:Europe; D006302:Health Services Research; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*