Unproven (unorthodox) cancer treatments: a guide for healthcare professionals.

Patients often seek out unorthodox therapies, either in lieu of, or in addition to, conventional treatments. It is essential that healthcare providers have both a clear understanding of why patients pursue these unorthodox treatments and a basic knowledge of current unorthodox treatments. A historical overview is presented as well as a review of the current more popular types of unorthodox therapies.