Searching Therapies: Overview

Searching the BCCT Collection

Programs, Protocols and Alternative Medical Systems

Programs, protocols, treatment plans, and regimens are the packages of therapies that clinicians use that combine and preferably integrate various therapies and products into a cohesive design for care. See more on our Integrative Programs and Protocols page.

Alternative medical systems are built upon complete systems of theory and practice. Often, these systems have evolved apart from and earlier than the conventional medical approach used in the United States. Examples of alternative medical systems:

Many types of complementary approaches are used in cancer care, as itemized below. The BCCT website collection organizes information about these therapies by name, by type and in many instances by a particular protocol or medical system (at right).

Browse or search the BCCT Therapy Summaries

Purpose of This Tool

This database has been designed to allow patients, caregivers and medical professional to access evidence-informed summaries of a variety of complementary approaches to managing cancer and its symptoms, including symptoms related to treatments. BCCT provides links to evidence and more in-depth reviews and investigations when possible.

How Therapies Are Selected

BCCT staff looked to these sources for input on therapies:

  • Our advisors
  • Alumni of the Commonweal and Smith Center Cancer Help Programs
  • Scientific literature, especially reviews and meta-analyses
  • News reports

From these, we have created a list of therapies supported by evidence for integration into conventional cancer treatment plans. We honed in on therapies that meet some combination of three criteria:

  1. Evidence-based or evidence-informed regarding efficacy and safety, or credible (which may differ from scientifically supported)
  2. Of interest to or used by patients and practitioners, or of potential future significance for the field
  3. Accessible and affordable

We have narrowed that list down to what we considered the most promising and/or interesting therapies for our expected users. We have given high priority to therapies that were included in integrative cancer care protocols/plans of one or more of our highly respected clinician advisors as well as other respected integrative oncology clinicians. We have also focused on groups of therapies used in protocols or with evidence for a small number of cancer types.

This list will continue to grow and develop and to improve in scope, accuracy and depth as we receive ongoing input from both our patient and clinician users. We also continue to expand the list of cancer types to include.

Therapies are not equally effective or safe across different cancer types, and interactions both with conventional treatments and with other therapies are not uncommon. We list cautions regarding use of therapies and encourage our readers to work with their cancer-care teams when interested in using therapies with cautions that may apply in their situations.

Types of Therapies

These categories are largely based on those listed by the National Cancer Institutes Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine (OCCAM).

Questionable Therapies

In addition to listing therapies for which there is scientific or scientifically informed evidence of effectiveness and safety, BCCT plans to provide a listing of questionable alternative "cancer cures" to avoid. These therapies are either poorly researched, proven to be ineffective, or found to be unsafe. Examples:

  • Essiac tea
  • Rife machines
  • Laetrile taken orally

We will also list therapies which should not be combined with conventional cancer treatments, such as n-acetylcysteine. We list these to alert people to avoid dangerous interactions.

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