American Cancer Society's Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Methods

by American Cancer Society

Helps patients and families evaluate claims for cancer cures or treatments found on the Internet and in the popular press. Entries on specific methods offer review and evaluation of each method, its history, evidence for its claims, and possible complications or dangers. Entries are organized in sections on mind, body, and spirit methods; manual healing and physical touch methods; herb, vitamin, and mineral methods; diet and nutrition; and pharmacological and biological treatment methods. Overview chapters discuss safety and regulatory issues and insurance coverage, and give guidelines for using complementary and alternative methods. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

438 pages, Paperback

Published September 15, 2000

Reviews

[Books Ring Mah Bell · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this book certainly covers every possible alternative treatment (art therapy, chelation, apitherapy, massage, supplements, and so on), it also puts the following disclaimers on every treatment:

-Has potential interactions with medications.
-Relying on this treatment alone can cause serious health problems (death).
-May be used with conventional treatments. Ask your doctor.

Yeah. Conventional treatments are the answer.
Radiation = Joy.
Chemo = poison. (I'm not saying it is not effective)
Here are some fun side effects from Carboplatin, a type of chemo:
(taken from the Mayo Clinic site)
Precautions
While you are being treated with carboplatin, and after you stop treatment with it, do not have any immunizations (vaccinations) without your doctor's approval. Carboplatin may lower your body's resistance and there is a chance you might get the infection the immunization is meant to prevent. In addition, other persons living in your household should not take oral polio vaccine since there is a chance they could pass the polio virus on to you. Also, avoid persons who have taken oral polio vaccine within the last several months. Do not get close to them, and do not stay in the same room with them for very long. If you cannot take these precautions, you should consider wearing a protective face mask that covers the nose and mouth.

Carboplatin can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, increasing the chance of getting an infection. It can also lower the number of platelets, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this occurs, there are certain precautions you can take, especially when your blood count is low, to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding:

* If you can, avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you are getting an infection or if you get a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.
* Check with your doctor immediately if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising; black, tarry stools; blood in urine or stools; or pinpoint red spots on your skin.
* Be careful when using a regular toothbrush, dental floss, or toothpick. Your medical doctor, dentist, or nurse may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums. Check with your health care professional before having any dental work done.
* Do not touch your eyes or the inside of your nose unless you have just washed your hands and have not touched anything else in the meantime.
* Be careful not to cut yourself when you are using sharp objects such as a safety razor or fingernail or toenail cutters.
* Avoid contact sports or other situations where bruising or injury could occur.

Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Also, because of the way these medicines act on the body, there is a chance that they might cause other unwanted effects that may not occur until months or years after the medicine is used. These delayed effects may include certain types of cancer, such as leukemia. Discuss these possible effects with your doctor.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
* Pain at place of injection
Less common
* Black, tarry stools
* Blood in urine or stools
* Cough or hoarseness, accompanied by fever or chills
* Fever or chills
* Lower back or side pain, accompanied by fever or chills
* Numbness or tingling in fingers or toes
* Painful or difficult urination, accompanied by fever or chills
* Pinpoint red spots on skin
* Skin rash or itching
* Unusual bleeding or bruising
* Unusual tiredness or weakness
Rare
* Blurred vision
* Ringing in ears
* Sores in mouth and on lips
* Wheezing
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention.
More common
* Nausea and vomiting
* Unusual tiredness or weakness
Less common
* Constipation or diarrhea
* Loss of appetite

This medicine may cause a temporary loss of hair in some people. After treatment with carboplatin has ended, normal hair growth should return.

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Yes, I'm frustrated as hell. We can put men on the moon and make a pill that gives a guy a four hour long boner (please call your doctor if this occurs) but we can't figure cancer out? What the hell?

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Deeply annoying. Shouldn't have expected anything more from the American Cancer Society.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive guide to the various alternative and integrative approaches to cancer. It includes entires from mind/body, supplement, and diet & nutrition.