Disadvantages And Challenges Of Cancer Alternatives

Although cancer alternatives undoubtedly offer many benefits, there are valid questions confronting the practice as a whole. These questions point out the disadvantages and challenges of cancer alternatives. If the alternative field is to prosper, these challenges must be examined when cancer patients decide to pursue alternative measures in their search for a cure.

Current Disadvantages and Challenges

1. The big difference between alternative approaches and standard treatments is that on one hand, scientific evidence from research studies forms the basis for standard medical treatments. On the other hand, complementary and alternative methodologies remain largely unsupported by clinical trials.

2. Some procedures such as acupuncture and chiropractic treatments are sometimes covered by insurance but majority of alternative treatments are disallowed. This means that they become out-of-pocket expenses.

3. In alternative medicine, many of the herbs and herbal preparations have become accepted from ancient times as medicine and their use is learned through tradition. Not all of them have been scrutinized and evaluated for safety. In addition, many are under the impression that herbals, because they are natural, cannot be toxic. Actually, a great number of plants are poisonous.

4. Many of the plants in use are incorporated whole into preparations without segregating any potentially harmful components. In other words, the active or the target ingredient is found in a plant but there are other ingredients present as well. In addition, few studies are made of herbal preparations and their interaction with other substances or medicines.

5. Protocols and dosages in alternative medicine are rarely, if ever, standardized. Preparations are not quantified in terms of milligrams to measure potency. This adds to the possibility of abuse. People often feel that if the medicine is herbal or natural, they can double or triple the dose without harming themselves. In reality, people can overdose even from vitamins. For example, over dosage of vitamin A can lead to liver problems, hair loss and osteoporosis.

6. Unlike prescription drugs, the medicines from alternative therapies are usually classified as food supplements and as such, they are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This can cast a lot of doubt on their quality, on the quality of preparation and the accuracy of the contents written on their labels.

7. There is no standardized certification for practitioners of alternative medicine. Doctors, nurses and pharmacists have to undergo rigorous training before they are given certification to practice their profession. While it is true that there are doctors, nurses and pharmacists who practice alternative medicine, there is no regulated licensing for alternative medicine per se. Yet, many practitioners will refer to themselves as if they are certified.

8. There is a lack of scholarly literature on existing medical procedures. Most literature on treatments comes in the form of testimonials that are not easily verifiable. This is one of the most glaring challenges of cancer alternatives.

9. Many statements supporting alternative medicine use emotions and paranoid suggestions to promote the practice. The most common among this would be statements to the effect that pharmaceutical companies (out of fear that they will lose profits) stand in the way of people discovering that the cure to cancer is really a simple herb or a diet.

10. There is a tendency to spread false hope in obtaining a cure without going through painful surgery or chemotherapy. When people succumb to this, they sometimes lose valuable time and do not undergo procedures as promptly as they should. This could prove to be a fatal mistake.

11. Sometimes, patients mistake the well-being resulting from alternative interventions for being cured. This could merely be an outcome of a healthier lifestyle but could be misleading in that patients sometimes cease their search for treatment or they develop a closed mindset regarding mainstream solutions.

While it cannot be contested that alternative treatments have benefits, it is equally true that the disadvantages and challenges of cancer alternatives in treatments do exist. These have to be met squarely and valid issues have to be addressed if what is alternative now is to be raised to the level of standard medical practice.