An overview of alternate therapies chosen by patients with cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To present an overview of and biomedical perspective on alternate cancer therapies used by patients with cancer.

DATA SOURCES

Medical, nursing, and pharmacy literature.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Two recent studies reported on patients choosing alternate care products with limited and anecdotal information obtained from the lay literature and their social group. Yet, the biomedical community has access to numerous excellent studies, documentation resources, and commentaries related to alternate therapies.

CONCLUSION

Provision of known biomedical information related to alternate therapies would provide patients with an opportunity to make informed healthcare choices.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Nurses, using information from biomedical sources, can serve as informational resources for patients with cancer making healthcare decisions.