Definition of CAM for Cancer

Cancer Awareness

This search category targets the array of complimentary (CAM) therapies for people with cancer–not to treat cancer without the use of conventional medicine, because there is absolutely no good medical evidence that a purely “alternative medicine” instead of conventional medicine improves cancer patient survival. The real medical evidence around CAM for…Read more

Explore CAM for Cancer research in the following databases: 

PubMed  Trip Cochrane*
*The Cochrane database requires users to enter the search term manually. Enter “CAM for cancer”


Research Spotlight

The databases often return hundreds of medical studies for a single wellness approach. This section summarizes a sampling of five studies – providing just a taste of the available research. 

  • Massage Therapy Promising for Reducing Pain, Fatigue and Anxiety in Cancer Populations
    The first (2016) systematic review to assess function-related outcomes and health-related quality of life in cancer pain populations (analyzing 16 studies) concluded that massage therapy appears promising for reducing pain intensity/severity, fatigue and anxiety in cancer populations.
    Access this meta-review
     
  • Swedish Massage Therapy Decreases Cancer-Related Fatigue
    A 2017 randomized trial from Emory University School of Medicine, studying breast cancer survivors that suffered cancer-related fatigue (CRF), indicated that weekly Swedish massage therapy for six weeks produced clinically significant relief of CRF–a debilitating condition for cancer survivors.
    Access this study
     
  • Cochrane Review: Yoga Reduces Fatigue, Anxiety and Depression in Breast Cancer Patients
    A 2017 Cochrane review (24 studies, 2,166 women with breast cancer) concluded that the evidence supports yoga as an intervention for improving health-related quality of life and reducing fatigue, sleep disturbances, depression and anxiety (when compared with psychosocial interventions such as counseling) for breast cancer patients. Lower-quality evidence also suggests that yoga might be as effective as other exercise interventions for these patients.
    Access this meta-review
     
  • CRD Review: Exercise Reduces Fatigue for Cancer Patients
    A Centre for Reviews & Dissemination (CRD, University of York) meta-review (70 studies, 4,881 patients) found that exercising roughly three times a week for around 45 minutes significantly reduced cancer-related fatigue for patients undergoing, or recovering from, cancer treatment.
    Access this meta-review
     
  • Mindfulness-based Training Reduces Stress, Fatigue and Proinflammatory Signaling in Breast Cancer Survivors
    A randomized controlled trial from UCLA showed that a 6-week program of Mindful Awareness Practices (MAPS) led to significant short-term reductions in stress, proinflammatory gene expression and inflammatory signaling, post-intervention for women under-50 with breast cancer. Other improvements included reduced fatigue, sleep disturbance and vasomotor symptoms and increased peace, meaning and positive affect.
    Access this study

Read more study snapshots


Studies-in-Progress/Clinical Trials Underway

A clinical trial is any research study that assigns people to health-related interventions to evaluate the outcomes. “Interventions” include drugs, surgical procedures, devices, behavioral treatments, preventive care, etc.


Access all studies currently available for CAM for Cancer in these databases:

PubMed  Trip Cochrane*
*The Cochrane database requires users to enter the search term manually. Enter “CAM for cancer”