In 1991, the Office of Alternative Medicine was established by the United States Congress. Part of the National Institutes of Health, the major goal of this new office is to evaluate the merits of complementary techniques and promising alternatives in effecting cure or alleviating the symptoms of illnesses, including cancer. A range of alternatives, including homeopathy, meditation and other mind-body techniques, and acupuncture, will be evaluated. Regardless of their outcome, such investigations will provide extremely important information.
In Canada, the Canadian Breast Cancer Research Initiative (a partnership including the Canadian Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute of Canada , the Medical Research Council and Health Canada) has recently commenced a project to examine the existing evidence in relation to eight commonly used "alternative therapies." If this project finds preliminary evidence of effectiveness for any of these agents, an effort will be made to stimulate further research to clarify the nature of any observed effects. This will ensure that any potential benefits are examined scientifically and, if confirmed, made available for other cancer patients.
That eventual information and your physician's advice will help you and your family become educated health care consumers able to consider helpful adjunctive or complementary therapies and avoid treatments that have no benefit. You will certainly save financially. You will spare yourself much anguish. You may gain yourselves precious moments together. And, if there is still a chance for remission or cure, you may also prevent a tragedy of the highest order.
