Complementary and alternative therapies

A complementary therapy means you can use it alongside your conventional medical treatment. It may help you to feel better and cope better with your cancer and treatment. An alternative therapy is generally used instead of conventional medical treatment.

For your safety, it is very important to make sure that any complementary therapist you see has the necessary training and qualifications.

Depending on the centre and the type of therapy you have, they may be available free of charge or you might need to pay.

Many people use the internet to get medical information. This can affect their treatment choices. It is important to use reliable and professional organisation websites for this.

People with cancer sometimes try complementary or alternative therapies to help with diet problems or to treat cancer.

Research into complementary and alternative therapies is important so that we know if they are safe to use, whether they work, and to find out if they interact with conventional cancer treatments.

Find detailed information and research into some of the many different complementary and alternative therapies used by people with cancer.

Find organisations, support groups, books, websites and other resources about complementary and alternative therapies.