A French study presented during Eurocancer 2010 reveals that one in six people turn to complementary medicine when they have a solid tumour or a malignancy.
These complementary medicines are often homeopathy, acupuncture, auricular therapy or nutritional supplements. The most popular method is homeopathy, chosen in 33% of cases.
The study was conducted in 18 centres in France with 850 participants.
Most people use complementary medicine to alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy. 46% of people do it but do not tell their doctor what type of treatment they chose. 80% of participants found all the information they were looking for on various websites.
It is always best to discuss all options with the doctor assigned to your case. He or she will be able to suggest treatments that are best suited to your case because each person is different.