"Complementary" therapies such as acupuncture, aromatherapy and spiritual healing are now being offered within many oncology and palliative care settings. Benefits of improved symptom control, quality of life and patient satisfaction have been demonstrated, but various questions remain. Is further integration with mainstream medicine desirable? What are the priorities for service provision and research? Are the specific techniques as important as their shared "holistic" context? Can they have significant unwanted effects? And besides making patients feel better, can they help to improve survival from cancer? Such questions are considered in this book. Jennifer Barraclough, former director of psycho-oncology at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford, has assembled specialist contributions from oncology and palliative care, complementary therapy, general practice, healthcare planning and research. Academic reviews are balanced by personal accounts from patients. The book is relevant to all stages of the "cancer journey" and includes a chapter on childhood cancer. This overview of a controversial and evolving field will interest those with professional or personal involvement in oncology or palliative care.
Review: I would recommend this book to all interested in finding out about complementary therapies and cancer care, and also as a guide when looking to provide such services within the conventional medical setting. National Association of Cancer Counsellors' Newsletter