Alternative medicine should be done in conjunction with traditional medicine, doctors say.
Dr. Comen explained that complementary therapies can be beneficial—but only when used alongside standard, evidence-based cancer treatments. According to Yale Medicine, an estimated 48% to 88% of cancer patients incorporate some form of alternative care—ranging from vitamins and supplements to meditation, tai chi, yoga, bee venom, or restrictive diets—into their overall treatment plans. However, the effectiveness of this strategy varies greatly depending on the type of cancer and if the patient is willing to undergo traditional treatment in tandem.
In a 2019 study, Yale researchers analyzed data from 1,290 patients with breast, prostate, lung, or colorectal cancer in the National Cancer Database. They compared outcomes between 258 patients who used alternative medicine and 1,032 who did not. The study found that those using alternative therapies were significantly more likely to refuse one or more components of conventional cancer treatment recommended by their doctors, such as chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. This refusal was linked to an increased risk of death compared to patients who followed standard treatment protocols without adding alternative therapies.
Research shows that patients who rely solely on alternative medicine and reject conventional treatment face a two to four times higher risk of death. A 2018 study from Yale further revealed that breast and colorectal cancer patients who chose alternative therapies were nearly five times more likely to die, and patients with non-metastatic lung cancer faced more than double the risk compared to those who underwent standard treatment.
Ultimately, early detection remains the most powerful tool in the fight against cancer. Doctors say that it is imperative to stop cancer in its tracks as it will prevent the disease from spreading around the body causing the need for more intense treatment down the line.
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