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01-11-2010 | Editorial

Complementary therapies for supportive cancer care

Author: Edzard Ernst

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 11/2010

Excerpt

“Randomised controlled trials of specific therapies…rarely demonstrate any benefit in terms of quality of life” [1]. This is a statement from a recent article in this journal dealing with complementary therapies for supportive cancer care. It made me ponder. Is this really true? I don't think so! …

Seers HE, Gale N, Paterson C, Cooke HJ, Tuffrey V, Polley MJ (2009) Individualised and complex experiences of integrative cancer support care: combining qualitative and quantitative data. Support Care Cancer 17(9):1159–1167CrossRefPubMed

Ernst E, Pittler MH, Wider B, Boddy K (2006) The Desktop Guide to Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2nd edn. Elsevier Mosby, Edinburgh

Klein J, Griffiths P (2004) Acupressure for nausea and vomiting in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Br J Community Nurs 9(9):383–388PubMed

Vickers AJ (1996) Can acupuncture have specific effects on health? A systematic review of acupuncture anti-emesis trials. J Roy Soc Med 89(6):303–311PubMed

Lee H, Schmidt K, Ernst E (2005) Acupuncture for the relief of cancer-related pain - a systematic review. Eur J Pain 9(4):437–444CrossRefPubMed

Lee MS, Kim KH, Shin BC, Choi SM, Ernst E (2009) Acupuncture for treating hot flushes in men with prostate cancer: a systematic review. Support Care Cancer 17(7):763–770CrossRefPubMed

Lee MS, Kim KH, Choi SM, Ernst E (2009) Acupuncture for treating hot flashes in breast cancer patients: a systematic review. Breast Cancer Res Treat 115(3):497–503CrossRefPubMed

Fellowes D, Barnes K, Wilkinson S (2004) Aromatherapy and massage for symptom relief in patients with cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002287, Issue 3, Art No. CD002287

Molassiotis A, Potrata B, Cheng KK (2009) A systematic review of the effectiveness of Chinese herbal medication in symptom management and improvement of quality of life in adult cancer patients. Complement Ther Med 17(2):92–120CrossRefPubMed

10.

Roffe L, Schmidt K, Ernst E (2004) Efficacy of coenzyme Q10 for improved tolerability of cancer treatments: a systematic review. J Clin Oncol 22(21):4418–4424CrossRefPubMed

11.

Dimeo F (2004) Welche Rolle spielt körperliche Aktivität in der Prävention, Therapie und Rehabilitation von neoplastischen Erkrankungen? Deutsche Zeitschr Sportmed 55:177–182

12.

Cramp F, Daniel J (2008) Exercise for the management of cancer-related fatigue in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006145.pub2, Issue 2, Art. No.: CD006145PubMed

13.

Conn VS, Hafdahl AR, Porock DC, McDaniel R, Nielsen PJ (2006) A meta-analysis of exercise interventions among people treated for cancer. Support Care Cancer 14(7):699–712CrossRefPubMed

14.

Roffe L, Schmidt K, Ernst E (2005) A systematic review of guided imagery as an adjuvant cancer therapy. Psychooncol 14(8):607–617CrossRef

15.

Bardia A, Barton DL, Prokop LJ, Bauer BA, Moynihan TJ (2006) Efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine therapies in relieving cancer pain: a systematic review. J Clin Oncol 24(34):5457–5464CrossRefPubMed

16.

Ernst E (2009) Massage therapy for cancer palliation and supportive care: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials. Support Care Cancer 17(4):333–337CrossRefPubMed

17.

Dileo C, Bradt J (2008) Music therapy for end-of-life care. (Protocol). Cochrane Database of Syst Rev. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007169, Issue 2, Art. No.: CD007169

18.

Lee MS, Chen KW, Sancier KM, Ernst E (2007) Qigong for cancer treatment: a systematic review of controlled clinical trials. Acta Oncol 46(6):717–722CrossRefPubMed

19.

Lee MS, Pittler MH, Ernst E (2007) Is Tai Chi an effective adjunct in cancer care? A systematic review of controlled clinical trials. Support Care Cancer 15(6):597–601CrossRefPubMed

20.

Ernst E, Lee MS (2008) A trial design that generates only ''positive'' results. J Postgrad Med 54(3):214–216CrossRefPubMed

21.

Witt CM (2009) Efficacy, effectiveness, pragmatic trials–guidance on terminology and the advantages of pragmatic trials. Forsch Komplementmed 16(5):292–294CrossRefPubMed

Title: Complementary therapies for supportive cancer care
Author: Edzard Ernst
Publication date: 01-11-2010
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 11/2010
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-010-0991-x

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