Research Alert: One-Third of Cancer Patients Use Complementary and Alternative Medicine

A stunning one-third of people with a cancer diagnosis use complementary and alternative medicines such as meditation, yoga, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and supplements. Herbal supplements were the most common alternative medicine and chiropractic, or osteopathic manipulation, was the second most common, according to Dr. Nina Sanford’s analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health Interview Survey. Her findings were published in the journal JAMA Oncology. Dr. Sanford and other cancer specialists agree this is concerning, especially in the case of herbal supplements.