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ALTERNATIVE CANCER TREATMENTS.
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Effective & fraudulent non-conventional treatments: Laetrile, antineoplaston, dietary approaches, homeopathy, physicians' views, role of media, patient choice, research, insurance.... More...
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Paper Abstract:
Effective & fraudulent non-conventional treatments: Laetrile, antineoplaston, dietary approaches, homeopathy, physicians' views, role of media, patient choice, research, insurance.
Paper Introduction:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction..............................................1
Alternative and Unconventional Therapies in the
Treatment of Cancer.......................................2
Physicians' Attitudes to Alternative and Unconventional
Therapies in the Treatment of Cancer......................8
Individual Choices for Patients Using Alternative and
Unconventional Therapies in the Treatment of Cancer......10
Research Funding for Alternative and Unconventional
Therapies in the treatment of Cancer.....................12
Insurance Cioverage for Alternative and Unconventional
Therapies in the Treatment of Cancer.....................15
Conclusions..............................................18
INTRODUCTION
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58). Although small pilot grantshad been awarded, no therapy had been subjected to scientific scrutiny.The report gave a description of each therapy, a summary of existingevidence of efficacy, and recommendations for further inquiry. ALTERNATIVE AND UNCONVENTIONAL THERAPIES IN THE TREATMENT OF CANCER In recent years, many improvements have been made in screeningprograms and diagnostic techniques to detect cancer. The trial included 178 patientswith advanced cancer for whom no other treatment was available. The media has played a large role in disseminatinginformation and urging early screening procedures, which has resulted inpatients taking a more active role in their own health care. They must also be amenable to taking backthese patients if the other treatment does not work without putting anyguilt on the patient about their choices. While alternative medicine has not come forth witha scientifically proven cure, its methods provide some measures of comfortto cancer patients, and alternative practitioners are more available to thepatient and give them a feeling of that they are helping themselves. W. Studies published inthe journal included evaluations of seven specific remedies and found fourhad beneficial effects. Natural Health,26, pp. Doctorsmust recognize this and be open and honest with their patients. However, 18 percent of respondents predicted that their companies' planswould cover alternative therapies by 1997. Attitudes of conventional practitioners and health-care legislatorsto complementary treatments for cancer range from wholesale denunciation tocautious tolerance, but little rapport is actively sought between them(Lessons from antineoplaston, 1997). Thismay explain why most patients using alternative therapies in conjunctionwith conventional treatment do not tell their physician that they are usingthese therapies. At resent, 35 patients are beingtreated at the Houston research center under 6 NCI protocols. The plan is notconsidered cost-effective for those over 65, as they will be adequatelycovered by Medicare. Other alternativetherapies are available at a discount, but are not covered by the plan. S.physicians practicing conventional medicine. As many as 4 percent of cancer patients who turn to alternative therapies abandonconventional therapy entirely. Alternative and conventional practitioners are beginning to worktogether to offer patients the best of both philosophies (Mead, 1996). If the choice they opt fordoesn't work, then they feel guilty and feel responsible for their ownhealth problems. Various authors. A dietary regimen to cure cancer was developed in the 194 s by Dr.Max Gerson. 68-73. In terms of health insurance, the consensus is that consumer demandfor alternative health care coverage is driving insurers to increase suchcoverage. A clinic was opened upin Mexico, and today it still treats cancer patients with the herbalformula. Within eightmonths, 85 percent of the patients in the trial had died. John's Wort in treating depression, which was done under theauspices of the National Institute of Mental Health, which provided thepeer review structure and part of the research funding (Stapleton, 1997).This, proponents say, means that other institutes with other priorities andother means of determining scientific importance frustrates the researchagenda. The health care you want, the coverage youneed: with a little coaxing, your insurer just might pick up the tab foralternative therapies. TheAmerican Medical Association (AMA) went as far as issuing a new positionpaper urging physicians to learn more about alternative medicine and laudedthe work of the Office of Alternative Medicine (OAM) in evaluating variousalternative treatments. The report presentsdescriptions of the more well-known therapies such as chiropractic, to theless well-known such as Aryuvedic medicine. While the effectiveness of alternative therapiesfor cancer is not yet proven (Benjamin, Simone, Traub & D'Epiro, 1998), thealternative care community believes that physicians should considerintegrating both traditional and alternative therapies in treating cancerpatients. 2 1-2 6). The Alternative Plan, unlike the Wellness Plan, does not activelypromote prevention and education, but does cover some preventive servicesafter 12 months of coverage. The plan pays for herbaland homeopathic medicines and prescribed vitamins. American Medical News, 4 , p. (1995). In spite ofthese advances, many patients still seek alternative care as an adjunct tothe increasingly high-tech, mechanistic world of modern medicine. Practitioners shouldhelp patients understand the expectations of any therapy they are about toundergo, be it conventional or alternative, and encourage patients to learnall they can about their disease.At the same time, it is essential that the practitioner still encourage thepatient to continue with conventional therapy, even while experimentingwith alternative therapies. Health Facts,2 , pp. CONCLUSIONS There is an increasing trend today among cancer patients to look foranswers beyond those offered by conventional medical practitioners. The primary roles for integrated conventional and alternativemedicine approaches in cancer today are: maximizing the immune systemfunctioning; supplementing cancer treatment with mind-body techniques suchas guided imagery, which helps promote the body's own healing capacity;improving the quality of life through psychosocial support; relieving somecancer pain with acupuncture; and minimizing the adverse effects ofchemotherapy with products such as vitamins and minerals, which have beenshow to be beneficial in preventing hair loss in patients undergoingtreatment with doxorubicin, and preventing the cardiotoxicity ofadriamycin. In 1983, Dr. Burzynski applied to the FDA for permission to test hisantineoplaston on patients with advanced brain cancer and was refused. Whilemost of their ministrations are harmless, such as nutrition and mind/bodyprocedures, others such as rigorous diets and herbal remedies may behazardous to the patient's wellbeing. A Connecticut-based HMO, Oxford Health Plans Inc., one of thecountry's highly profitable and well-respected HMOs, is now offering anexperimental plan to its 1,5 employees which allows them to choosehomeopaths or naturopaths as their primary care physicians. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 43,p. Clinics outside of the United States continue to do a thrivingbusiness with their ozone therapy, coffee enemas, removal of dentalamalgams, and testimonials from "cured" cancer patients are broadcastwidely over the internet. Beyondthe conventional. On a much larger scale, American Western Life Insurance's WellnessPlan and Alternative Health Services's Alternative Health Plan each havedistinct advantages over conventional insurance (Baar, 1995). 55). PHYSICIANS' ATTITUDES TO ALTERNATIVE AND UNCONVENTIONAL THERAPIES IN THE TREATMENT OF CANCER Most responsible practitioners of alternative medicine agree that themore extreme types of alternative therapies are best avoided. PatriciaBlanch, program manager of special markets and dental products at BlueCross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts says her company decided to develop analternative therapies plan based on the volume of claims it received fornon-reimbursed services such as acupuncture and homeopathy (Sullivan,1997). 2 1-2 6. While they are beginning toaccept that some benefits may come from unconventional therapies, they arenot yet ready to yield to these therapies altogether. Benjamin, S. The program includes a low-fatvegetarian diet, meditation and support-group sessions. A case in point isradiation treatment for cancer. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction..............................................1 Alternative and Unconventional Therapies in the Treatment of Cancer.......................................2 Physicians' Attitudes to Alternative and Unconventional Therapies in the Treatment of Cancer......................8 Individual Choices for Patients Using Alternative and Unconventional Therapies in the Treatment of Cancer......1 Research Funding for Alternative and Unconventional Therapies in the treatment of Cancer.....................12 Insurance Cioverage for Alternative and Unconventional Therapies in the Treatment of Cancer.....................15 Conclusions..............................................18 INTRODUCTION Alternative or unconventional treatments of cancer and other diseasesare becoming commonplace with patients tiring of traditional therapieswhich simply don't work. 4. These non-traditional treatments vary fromacupuncture and herbal remedies borrowed from Oriental medicine, to specialdiets, chiropractic, massage and supplements. On the otherhand, alternative therapists give the patient the impression that if theydo not choose to try their own particularly brand of alternative treatment,then they are depriving themselves of a chance of a cure and are lettingthemselves down (Lessons from antineoplaston, 1997). Preexistingconditions are not covered in the first 12 months. Responsible use of such remediesrequires education of the patient and a clear awareness of the potentialhazard of such treatments. Patientsin the trial received Laetrile intravenously for 21 days. A framework known as COST(Cooperation in Science and Technology) has been established to coordinatenationally funded research on a European Union level to gather scientificevidence for the effectiveness of different therapies. Hamilton, J. 1-2. The NCI has established a list of criteria to help cancer patientsmake safe decisions if they choose alternative therapies. These guidelinessuggest asking whether the proposed treatment has been evaluated in anuncontrolled manner or in secrecy; do the practitioners claim that themedical community is trying to keep their cure from the public; does thetreatment rely on nutritional or diet therapy as its main focus; do theproviders claim the treatment is harmless and painless, and that itproduces no unpleasant side effects; and does the treatment have a "secretformula" that only a small group of practitioners use. The studies did suggest someadvantage in patients with advanced melanoma, but controlled studies areneeded to validate any conclusions of the effectiveness of the therapy. (1997). Some see novalidity in his work, while others believe that because his work hasfocused primarily on brain cancers for which there is no acceptedtreatment, he may eventually be exonerated. Just because a substance is "natural" doesn'tnecessarily mean it is safe. Some of thepatients were also found to have dangerously high levels of cyanide, abyproduct of amygdalin metabolism, in their bloodstream (Moertel et al,1982, pp. In the 198 s, the Mayo clinic conducted a clinical trial ofLaetrile under the auspices of the NCI. Moertel, C. Mutual ofOmaha covers the highly cost-effective alternative heart disease programfounded by Dr. Dean Ornish, a program which reverses blocked arterieswithout the use of drugs or surgery. Both sides, the conventional and the alternative medicalpractitioners, must admit the possibility that both conventional andunconventional treatments may have a role to play in the treatment ofcancer (Lessons from antineoplaston, 1997). Twelve major insurance companies are nowreimbursing policy holders for alternative treatments because they arefinding them cost-effective in many cases, and the first alternative HMO isin the works. Thedrawback to this latter fact is that the patient may ultimately feel asense of guilt if the alternative help they sought is unsuccessful. He believed he had founda biochemical defense system in the body with growth-inhibiting peptidesthat controlled some types of cancer by arresting them rather thandestroying them. No one wascured, and the median survival time was only five months. Mead, N. NCI'spublications, and caution that "many proponents of unconventional methodsof cancer treatment make claims that are not or cannot be scientificallyconfirmed, and the use of unconventional methods may result in the loss ofvaluable time and the opportunity to receive potentially effectivetreatment." While these statements are reasonable, they give the impression thatpatients who choose alternative treatments are irresponsible. H. Practitioners need, on the onehand, to inform the patient of any risks they feel inherent in a particulartreatment, but at the same time, keep their prejudices under control so asnot to oppose a patients' wish to try something different, or make themfeel foolish (Brigden, 1995). As in the UnitedStates, alternative practitioners in Europe often claim that traditionalcriteria are unsatisfactory for judging nonconventional medicine, andanecdotal evidence is considered adequate proof of efficacy of theirtreatments. Mutual is nowlooking into similar programs for diabetes, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis,and other chronic diseases. The WellnessPlan is available in several western states and covered two to threethousand people as of 1995. Breakthrough in cancer research. (1995). New and moreeffective drugs are now available for cancer treatment and cancer is nolonger considered an automatic death sentence (Benjamin, Simone, Traub &D'Epiro, 1998). A., Simone, C. Insurance coverage for all health care. Insurance for alternative treatments.American Health, 15, p. (1995). G., Fleming, T. 53-61. Subscribers can see anylicensed physician acting within the scope of their license to treat anyillness or injury or to provide preventive services (Baar, 1995)."Physicians" includes acupuncturists, Ayurvedic doctors, homeopathy,naturopathy, chiropractic and Traditional Chinese Medicine. 82-89. Patient Care, 32, pp. Nutritional and herbal remedies appeal to patients because theybelieve most natural products are relatively benign compared to drasticchemotherapy treatments. An example of such a purported "cure" is Laetrile, a derivative ofamygdalin, which was popular in the 197 s (Benjamin, Simone, Traub &D'Epiro, 1998, p. 44. Subscribers must choose a doctorfrom within those approved by the plan, but the list includes alternativeand allopathic doctors. Matthews, H. In 1996, Washingtonstate passed a law mandating coverage of alternative treatment by providerslicensed by the state (Hamilton, 1996). The plan encourages self management of healthcare by supplying members with a Wellness Library which includes books onalternative health care by Andrew Weil, a high-profile promoter ofalternative medicine, as well as self-study courses and order forms for avariety of self-care natural treatments. Dr. Burzynksi wasfinally acquitted by a federal court jury in 1997, and is now conductinginvestigative trials under NCI protocols. Some naturopaths still use the Hoxsey formula, but only incombination with more conventional treatments. In the near future, cancer patients will be able to makeinformed choices as to their therapy with the guidance of conventional andalternative practitioners and with the knowledge that their insurance willcover the costs of both forms of treatments. Eligibility in the Wellness Plan is restricted to people under 65,unmarried and same-sex partners are not covered, and there are limits onpreexisting conditions. All the data are kept in a computer and asubscriber can call at any time and talk to the physician on call with anyhealth concerns. 21. Because of this fact, his case differs from that of Laetrile. Vegetarian Times, 24, p. The law has been criticized by some insurers who claim this wouldrequire them to pay for services that may be harmful, but it has beenpointed out that even some conventional treatments, such as using ear tubesfor ear infections in children, have not been proved effective. Although thepotential clinical role for many alternative therapies remains largelyuncertain, the alternative medicine community does not want traditionalmedicine to dismiss unproven methods simply because they are unproven, butrather they would like the cancer treatment model to be expanded to includethe best of both medical worlds (Benjamin, Simone, Traub & D'Epiro, 1998). 57). The reason so many cancer sufferers seekalternative therapies is because of the failure of modern medicine toprovide a cure. NaturalHealth, 25, pp. The problem is thatthere is insufficient scientific study of these natural remedies so thattheir actions, interactions and effects within the body, and withconventional medicines, remain unknown. S. (1982). 56). The NCI suggeststhat if the answer to any of these questions is "yes," then the patientshould be skeptical of its proponents. Dr Stanislaw Burzynski, a Polish cancer researcher, has provokedintense controversy in the United States with his antineoplaston treatmentfor cancer. A27.----------------------- 21 58). Alternative therapists point out, however, that some alternativetreatments initially labeled quackery have made their way into mainstreammedicine because studies showed their efficacy. Sullivan reportsthat in 1995, Business and Health, a magazine for the managed-careindustry, surveyed 653 executives at U. It is not yet time to abandontraditional medicine, but rather to see beyond the horizon and be open tonew ideas and treatments if they are proven safe and effective. Its use was restricted in some states, but asuccessful class action suit was filed to stop the FDA from prohibiting itsimportation. Patients can take matters into their own hands and submit claims foralternative therapies even if they know they won't be reimbursed. S. (1997). H., Traub, M., & D'Epiro, N. Office of Alternative Medicine issues report. Journal of the American MedicalAssociation, 28 . Since cancer treatments are such a volatile issue, a contributingauthor to the report, Dr. Ralph Moss, hoped that the new director of OAM,Dr. Liquid extracts from the mistletoe plant have been widely used inEurope since the 192 s for the treatment of many cancers, but are notavailable in the United States. Wayne Jonas, would help initiate evaluations of five or more promisingalternative cancer treatments as quickly as possible. In more than 7 percent of cases, patients do not tell theironcologist that they are using alternative therapies. The reason for this is that a cure for cancer still eludesconventional medicine. The Journal of the American Medical Association in November andDecember last year was devoted to reports on the exploding trend ofAmericans towards alternative medicine (JAMA, 1998). Many, such as herbal and homeopathic remedies, are in the public domain,and so pharmaceutical companies have no incentive to pursue costly researchon them. companies of varying size, andfound that just 12 percent of the companies provided insurance plans whichcovered alternative therapies such as acupuncture, massage or chiropractic. Furthermore, patients turning toalternative therapies often abandon conventional care completely and thusdeprive themselves of any benefits its may provide. It covers homeopathy,naturopathy, and acupuncture for 1, subscribers. Payments wouldbe on a sliding scale depending on the patient's ability to pay. Laetrile is still used in manyclinics in Mexico, but responsible alternative medial practitioners in theUnited States do not recommend the use of Laetrile for cancer treatment. EC calls for more testing ofalternative remedies. Walker, P. It is acommon disease, but many alternative treatments do little more than delaydeath, sometimes at the expense of considerable suffering (Lessons fromantineoplaston, 1997, p. 127 . Getting areferral from a conventional physician to an alternative practitioner mayalso help, and referral to an approved alternative clinic is beneficial. Dr. Burzynksi is said to have sold over $4 million worth of hisantineoplaston to 2,5 patients over the past 14 years. British Medical Journal, p. V. The treatment alsoincludes dietary manipulation of salt and protein intake, frequent coffeeenemas and the administration of castor oil. It also helps to send a letter along with the claim, and any datathe patient can find to validate the procedure in question. 74-76. It relied upon an arduous program intended to modify theintracellular balance of sodium and potassium through the consumption oflarge quantities of fresh fruit, vegetable, and calves' liver juices daily(Benjamin, Simone, Traub & D'Epiro, 1998, p. 741. A European Commission report on alternative medicine hascalled for an improved standard for training for practitioners ofalternative medicine and more research to protect the public from harm(Matthews, 1998). The University of Texas has identified 333published studies evaluating mistletoe for cancer treatment, of which fiveshowed a beneficial effect and now several multicenter studies are underway in Europe. Baar, K. While these "remedies" have been condemned overthe years by the conventional medical establishment, many are now comingunder the scrutiny of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), which hasestablished an official research program at the Center for AlternativeMedicine Research in Cancer at the University of Texas-Houston HealthScience Center. (1997). The clinic will be run by ateam of conventional doctors and alternative practitioners. They wish to be funded as an independent center, but critics saythis promotes the idea that their are two types of medicine - conventionaland alternative - which is counterproductive to the current trend to tryand integrate the two to give the patient the best possible therapyoptions. Through the media, patients are becoming more informed and have muchmore sophisticated knowledge of their disease than in the past. The statelaw requires health plans to cover treatment by the full range of state-licensed practitioners. Dr.Burzynski's treatment does not come cheap: the annual price tag forantineoplaston treatment is $36, to $6 , per patient. Hecontinued his struggles with the FDA until 1997, involving injunctions,raids on his clinic, grand jury investigations, criminal contempt charges,charges of fraud for violating federal court orders not to treat patientswith antineoplaston, and an accumulation of 75 federal charges of illegalinterstate commerce of prohibited materials (Benjamin, Simone, Traub &D'Epiro, 1998; Lessons from antineoplaston, 1997). Critics of OAMbelieve that its judgements on unconventional therapies are oftenquestionable because it grants funds almost exclusively to researchers whoback such practices (Walker, 1997). The Alternative Health Plan is available throughout the United Statesand gives more freedom than the Wellness Plan. (1997). Studiesshow that nearly half of all cancer patients turn to alternative therapiesat least once during the course of their fight against cancer (Brigden,1995). INDIVIDUAL CHOICES FOR PATIENTS USING ALTERNATIVE OR UNCONVENTIONAL THERAPIES IN THE TREATMENT OF CANCER Pressure is put on the patient from both sides of the treatmentspectrum, and it is difficult for someone who is suffering from a life-threatening disease to know which way to go. L. So far, none of the alternative cancer treatments which have come andgone in the last decade have provided a cure for cancer regardless ofnumerous claims to have done so (Benjamin, Simone, Traub & D'Epiro, 1998,p. The Hoxsey formula of nine herbs, which has been around since the192 s, has always been controversial, and the AMA and the FDA eventuallybrought about the closure of Hoxsey's clinic in the United States(Benjamin, Simone, Traub & D'Epiro, 1998, p. There isno longer any question that the mind influences the course of a disease,and that a motivated patient is more likely to benefit from a treatment(Benjamin, Simone, Traub & D'Epiro, 1998, p. Subscribers are covered for 12 visits per year to each ofa variety of specialists, including acupuncturists, Ayurvedic doctors,hypnotherapists, accupressure technicians etc. (OAM Report, 1995). Patients with neither of these plans may be able toappeal to managed-care plans for coverage of some alternative services,though it is a long, drawn-out process. Insurance companies, yielding to public demand, are slowlychanging their coverage to include more and more alternative therapies,beginning with the most benign such as massage therapy, acupuncture andchiropractic. INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR ALTERNATIVE AND UNCONVENTIONAL THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF CANCER When two-thirds of polled Blue Cross customers in Washington andAlaska wanted coverage for alternative therapies to supplement theirexisting health plans, a pilot program called AlternaPath NontraditionalHealth Care Program was begun (Baar, 1995). The Wellness Plan can be bought as anindividual/family plan or as a group plan through an employer. BACKGROUND Studies show that one-third of Americans use alternative orcomplementary medicine every year (An About Face at the AMA, 1996). Worldwide, the need for research on alternative therapies is beingemphasized. Stapleton, S. (1996). NewEngland Journal of Medicine, 3 6, pp. They also assert that many fundedprojects are a waste of taxpayers' money. Lessons from antineoplaston. The law virtually guarantees everySeattle-area resident will have affordable access to chiropractors,naturopaths, acupuncturists and other alternative practitioners. Unproven (questionable) cancer therapies.The Western Journal of Medicine, 163, pp. S. Sullivan, K. 59). The scientificjury is still out on the effectiveness of antineoplaston. 74). Psychological and spiritual approaches to healing also seem tobe welcomed by cancer patients facing mortality. Unconventional practitioners are often seen as empathic, positive andavailable to the patient, whereas conventional health care professionalsare often seen as impersonal, cautious and evasive, which may reinforce apatient's decision to opt for alternative therapies (Brigden, 1995). OAM's budget for 1997 was $12million. The advice to cancer patients fromconventional practitioners is to follow the guidelines of the U. This paper will look atalternative and unconventional treatments for cancer, examining physiciansattitudes to alternative therapies, insurance coverage for suchunconventional treatments, funding for research into alternative medicaltherapies, and what choices are available to, and made by, the individualseeking treatment. (1996). It sparked international interest with stories ofremarkable recoveries. The Center for Alternative Medicine research at the University ofTexas has identified six human studies in the literature of Gerson'sdietary therapy and found they were not randomized or controlled studies.The results of the studies were vague and mixed, with many patients lost tofollowup and inadequate statistical support. Naturopaths and herbalists have long claimed thatmany natural products do have tumor-fighting properties that could,theoretically, be incorporated into a multifaceted cancer treatment program(Benjamin, Simone, traub & D'Epiro, 1998, p. The plan does cover major medical,hospitalization, prescription drugs, lab testing and surgery. A clinicaltrial of amygdalin (Laetrile) in the treatment of human cancer. (1998). Brigden, M. Although much more research needs to be done, it does appearthat alternative and unconventional therapies may offer relief for certainmedical conditions, and in some cases, with less side-effects thantraditional medicine. 463-469. Alternative medicine debate one of philosophy- and money. In afurther move, for Seattle residents who lack medical insurance, a publicalternative-care clinic is in preparation. Cancer is only one of the illnesses for which people seek alternativetherapies, but it is the one with the highest public visibility. His early research convinced him that certain peptidefractions in urine show antineoplastic (anticancer) activity, and that theyfunctioned as an alternate disease-fighting system to the immune system.(Benjamin, Simone, Traub & D'Epiro, 1998, p. Proponents of the OAM say that its current status within the NIHrestricts its capacity to do research because its grants must be funded incollaboration with other institutes, such as the study of the effectivenessof St. They are free to choose their own method of treatment,but they need guidance and a truthful assessment of the possible benefitsand side effects of all the alternatives open to them. References An about-face at the AMA. Dr. Burzynski does not claim to cure braincancers, but to arrest their growth. 53). The Wellness Plan emphasizes preventive care, and subscribers arerequired to get an annual physical exam that includes a complete healthhistory, examination, and testing. R., & Rubin, J. Despite the study's conclusions that Laetrile was a toxic drug thathad no role in treating cancer, there are at least 863 active sites on theinternet dealing with Laetrile, including on-line ordering sites, showingthat consumer interest remains high. Controversy continues over federal funds forresearch on alternative medicine. In Canada, the CanadianComplementary Medicine Association held its first meeting in 1997 inresponse to reports from Statistics Canada that 3.3 million Canadianssought treatment outside the conventional medical establishment in 1996.At the time of the meeting, about 3 of Canada's 55, physicians wereusing complementary therapies. Vegetarian Times, 235, pp. The report discusses research in alternative therapies, but points outthat as many of these therapies are tailored to the individual, they arenot amenable to tightly controlled research studies of their effectiveness. Even the National Institute of Health (NIH) is conductingresearch on alternative therapies. RESEARCH FUNDING FOR ALTERNATIVE AND UNCONVENTIONAL THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF CANCER In 1995, the Office of Alternative Medicine (OAM) at the NIHpublished its first report on the broad range of alternative medicaltherapies available in the U. An individualized "wellness plan" isdevised for each subscriber. The program has been promotedinternationally and continues to be promoted at the Gerson clinic in Mexicosince it was hounded out of the United States (Lessons from antineoplaston,1997). Thephysician of the future will undoubtedly practice a combination oftraditional and alternative therapies as more and more funding is going toresearch on alternative techniques, sorting out the helpful from theharmful. It pays up to$5 per year for homeopathic and herbal remedies, and provides for 12visits per year for bodywork prescribed by a licensed physician. This is the feeling today among U. Theyare seeking these answers at the hands of practitioners of alternativemedicine. This is difficultwhen conventional and alternative practitioners are so opposed to oneanother's techniques. (1998, November). The commission's five year study showed that a third ofthe population uses alternative therapies without knowing if there is anyscientific evidence for their efficacy. (1998). (1996). Sources repeatedly say that the more vocal consumers are, thefaster they are likely to win coverage (Sullivan, 1997). Lancet, 349, p.
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