Alternative cancer therapies' may increase your risk of death

"Cancer patients who use alternative medicine more than twice as likely to die," is the stark message from The Independent. Researchers found that people who chose alternative medicine instead of conventional cancer treatments were much less likely to survive for at least five years.

Conventional treatments included surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or hormone treatments. The research only applies to people who choose not to have conventional treatments.

Overall, 78% of people having conventional treatment for cancer survived at least five years, compared to only 55% of people having alternative treatment alone. The difference was biggest for breast cancer, where people who chose alternative therapies were more than five times as likely to die within five years as those who chose conventional treatments.

Acupuncture and Fibromyalgia

New from BestBETs:

In [adults with Fibromyalgia] does [acupuncture] have an effect on [reducing pain]?

Acupuncture may reduce pain in fibromyalgia syndrome. Most studies do not report on long-term pain outcomes and there are no large-scale studies.

Acupuncture shows promise for preventing episodic migraines

Acupuncture was about as effective as long term medication in reducing the number of migraines. There were fewer adverse events amongst people receiving acupuncture (16-17%) compared to drug treatment (34%).

Migraines affect around one in seven people in the UK. Their unpleasant symptoms last between four and 72 hours and can impact on people’s ability to do everyday tasks, such as going to work.

This systematic review looked at acupuncture delivered at least once a week for up to six sessions, similar to the NICE recommendation of up to ten sessions over five to eight - weeks.

From NIHR Dissemination Centre

Are there any complementary and alternative medicines that should be avoided in patients on cancer chemotherapy?

New NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service Q&A focusing on complementary therapies and alternative medicines (CAMs) with pharmacological activity such as herbal medicines, vitamins and minerals, and summarises information on common characteristics of CAMs that clinicians need to consider when using together with cancer chemotherapy. It includes recommendations on commonly used CAMs that should be avoided or used with caution in patients on cancer chemotherapy.