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Cancer: Treatment, Support & Integrative Care

About 4 in 10 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, and about 7 in 10 people diagnosed are still alive 5 years later. Standard treatment is what controls or cures cancer; integrative therapies such as acupuncture, massage, yoga and meditation can ease symptoms alongside it — never instead of it.

Integrative therapies should be used alongside, never instead of, standard cancer treatment. Don’t use unproven products or practices to replace or delay medical treatment, and talk with your health care provider before adding any complementary product or practice (NCCIH, U.S. National Institutes of Health). No complementary approach has been shown to cure cancer or make it go into remission (NCCIH).

Why it matters: in a U.S. study of people with curable breast, prostate, lung or colorectal cancer, those who chose alternative medicine instead of standard treatment had about two and a half times the risk of death (JNCI, 2018). A second study found that people who used complementary medicine were more likely to turn down parts of their standard treatment — and that turning it down explained their higher risk of death (JAMA Oncology, 2018). Used with standard care, some approaches help people feel better (American Cancer Society).

Tell your oncology team about every supplement — even vitamins, no matter how safe you think they are (National Cancer Institute). Some can make cancer treatment work less well (NCCIH).

In treatment now? Call your care team right away — even in the middle of the night (CDC) — for:

  • A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher during chemotherapy. This is a medical emergency: fever may be the only sign of an infection, and infection during chemotherapy can be life-threatening (CDC). Chemotherapy can lower the white blood cells that fight infection (neutropenia) (CDC). If you go to the emergency room, tell the person checking you in that you are a cancer patient getting chemotherapy, so you are seen quickly (CDC).
  • Other signs of infection: chills and sweats, a new or changed cough, shortness of breath, a sore throat or new mouth sore, a stiff neck, burning or pain when urinating, redness, soreness or swelling (including around surgical wounds and ports), diarrhea, vomiting, belly or rectal pain, or new pain (CDC). An infection that isn’t getting better, or is getting worse, can lead to sepsis — act fast (CDC). Ask your doctor before taking anything to lower a fever, because it can hide signs of a serious problem (NCI).
  • Bleeding that won’t stop after a few minutes; bleeding from your mouth or nose or when you vomit; red or pink urine; black or bloody stools; or bad headaches, vision changes, confusion or unusual sleepiness (NCI).
  • Vomiting you can’t control — it can lead to dehydration and other serious problems (NCI).

Keep your care team’s daytime and after-hours numbers with you (CDC). If you are thinking about suicide or are in emotional crisis, call or text 988 (988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). Never wait for an acupuncture, massage or chiropractic appointment for any of these.

What is cancer?

Cancer is a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. It can start almost anywhere. Cancerous (malignant) tumors invade nearby tissue and can travel to distant places to form new tumors — this is called metastasis. Benign tumors don’t invade or spread. Many cancers form solid tumors, but blood cancers such as leukemias generally do not (National Cancer Institute).

Cancer is caused by changes to genes that control how cells grow and divide. These changes can come from errors as cells divide, from damage by things such as tobacco smoke and the sun’s ultraviolet rays, or be inherited. The body’s ability to clear damaged cells goes down with age, which is part of why cancer is more common later in life. Each person’s cancer has its own mix of genetic changes — and many newer treatments target specific changes (NCI). That is why “cancer” is really a group of related diseases (NCI).

How common is it?

For 2026, an estimated 2,114,850 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer and 626,140 will die of it. About 39 in 100 people (39.2%) will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. The good news: about 7 in 10 people diagnosed (70.5%) are expected to survive the effects of their cancer for at least 5 years, the U.S. cancer death rate is going down, and in 2023 an estimated 18.6 million people in the U.S. were living with cancer (NCI SEER Program). Survival statistics describe large groups and can’t predict what will happen to any one person (NCI SEER).

Lowering your risk

It usually isn’t possible to know why one person gets cancer and another doesn’t. Some risk factors, such as getting older and family history, can’t be changed; others can (NCI). The best-proven steps:

  • Don’t use tobacco, or quit. Scientists believe cigarette smoking causes about 30% of all U.S. cancer deaths, and not smoking or quitting lowers the risk of getting and dying from cancer (NCI). Free help: call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (CDC) or NCI’s quitline at 1-877-44U-QUIT (NCI).
  • Drink less alcohol, or none. There is strong evidence that alcohol can cause cancer; the more someone drinks, the higher the risk, and even light drinkers can be at higher risk of some cancers (NCI, CDC).
  • Get vaccinated. The HPV vaccine and the hepatitis B vaccine can help prevent cancer (CDC). HPV vaccination is recommended at ages 11–12 (it can start at 9) and through age 26 for those not fully vaccinated; some adults 27 to 45 may decide with their doctor to get it. It has the potential to prevent more than 90% of cancers caused by HPV (CDC).
  • Protect your skin. Most skin cancers are caused by too much ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds. Use shade, clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher, and avoid indoor tanning (CDC).
  • Stay active and aim for a healthy weight. Obesity is linked to a higher risk of several cancers, and people who lose weight lower their risk of these cancers; active people have a lower risk of certain cancers (NCI).
  • Know your family history and share it with your doctor (CDC).
  • Get the screening tests recommended for you — see Cancer screening tests below.

Supplements are not a shortcut: the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force advises against vitamin E or beta-carotene supplements to prevent cancer (beta-carotene can harm some people, such as smokers), and there isn’t enough evidence to say whether other vitamins or minerals help (NCCIH).

Warning signs to get checked

Cancer can cause many symptoms, but they are most often caused by something else. If a symptom doesn’t get better after a few weeks, see your doctor — and don’t wait for pain, because cancer often doesn’t hurt (NCI). Signs NCI lists include:

  • a lump or swelling anywhere (such as the breast, neck, underarm, belly or groin), or nipple or breast skin changes;
  • blood in the stool or urine, a change in bowel habits, or trouble or pain urinating;
  • a cough or hoarseness that doesn’t go away, trouble swallowing, or heartburn or indigestion that doesn’t go away;
  • bleeding or bruising, fever or night sweats, or weight loss or gain — for no known reason;
  • severe fatigue that lasts;
  • a new mole or a change in a mole, a sore that doesn’t heal, or a white or red patch in the mouth;
  • headaches, seizures, or changes in vision or hearing (NCI).

For bowel symptoms, see also our Bowel Problems guide.

Getting a diagnosis and finding trustworthy care

  • See a cancer specialist. An oncologist is a doctor with special training in diagnosing and treating cancer; hematologists, radiation oncologists and surgeons also treat cancer. Your primary care doctor or local hospital can suggest someone (NCI).
  • Consider an NCI-designated cancer center. These 74 centers meet rigorous standards for research and deliver cutting-edge treatments; thousands of patients join clinical trials there each year (NCI). The closest to the Monterey Bay area are the Stanford Cancer Institute, the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center in San Francisco and the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center in Sacramento (NCI Find a Cancer Center). You can also check whether a hospital is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (NCI).
  • Get a second opinion if you want one. It is very common, most doctors welcome it, and many insurers pay for it — some require it, especially before surgery. Involve your doctor so your records and test results can be shared (NCI).
  • Ask about clinical trials when you discuss treatment options (NCI).
  • Free, confidential help: NCI’s Cancer Information Service, 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237), in English and Spanish (NCI), and the American Cancer Society’s 24/7 helpline, 1-800-227-2345 (American Cancer Society).

What “integrative” really means

Complementary medicine is used along with standard treatment — for example, acupuncture to lessen side effects. Alternative medicine is used instead of standard treatment — for example, a special diet instead of the cancer drugs an oncologist prescribes. Integrative medicine combines conventional care with complementary practices shown by science to be safe and effective (NCI). People with cancer use these approaches to cope with side effects such as nausea, pain and fatigue, and to ease worry and stress (NCI). The Society for Integrative Oncology’s guidelines say some approaches help control symptoms when added to conventional care, but unproven methods shouldn’t replace it, because delayed treatment lowers the chance of remission or cure (NCCIH). Many NCI-designated cancer centers offer survivorship programs (NCI), and some, such as Memorial Sloan Kettering, run their own integrative medicine services (Memorial Sloan Kettering) — ask your cancer center what it offers.

Side by side

Six approaches compared

For every condition we look at the same six approaches: what each involves, what it typically costs, and what a patient can realistically expect.

ApproachWhat it involves Estimated costWhat to expect
Conventional medicine (AMA) Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy and stem cell transplant — usually in combination — plus clinical trials, palliative care at any stage and follow-up care. Among the most expensive conditions to treat; U.S. cancer care cost about $208.9 billion in 2020. Insurance, Medicare, Medicaid and nonprofit programs help; screening is often $0. The treatments that control and cure cancer. About 7 in 10 people diagnosed are alive 5 years later, and the U.S. death rate is falling. Results depend on the cancer type and stage.
Chiropractic No role in treating cancer. Possibly gentle care for ordinary back or neck pain — only with your oncologist’s OK. About $50–$150 an adjustment without insurance ($15–$50 with); first visits $100–$250. No evidence it affects cancer. New back pain after cancer can be a sign of spread to the spine, and cancer in bone can lead to fractures — get checked first.
Acupuncture Used alongside treatment for chemotherapy nausea, aromatase-inhibitor joint pain, cancer pain, hot flashes, fatigue and dry mouth. About $90–$185 a follow-up visit cash-pay; community clinics about $50–$90. One cancer center charges $145 (private) or $70 (community). Best evidence is for treatment-related nausea and aromatase-inhibitor joint pain; guidelines support it for some pain. Needs strict clean-needle technique.
Herbal medicine No herb or supplement treats or cures cancer. Some, like ginger, are studied for side effects — only with your oncology team’s OK. Cost estimate being researched. Real risks: St. John’s wort weakens some cancer drugs, and antioxidant supplements may make chemotherapy or radiation less effective. Many oncologists advise avoiding supplements during treatment.
Massage therapy Gentle massage from a therapist trained in oncology massage, for stress, anxiety, mood and pain. About $50–$90 for 45–60 minutes at clinics and spas, $60–$120 privately; one cancer center charges $160 an hour. Low-quality but encouraging evidence for anxiety, mood and pain. No evidence it treats cancer, and no research has shown it spreads cancer.
MBHA Wellness Coach Staying active, eating well, sleep, mind-body practices (mindfulness, yoga, tai chi), support groups, caregiver support, survivorship plans and help finding financial resources. Coaching: cost estimate being researched. Many support groups are free. Guidelines recommend exercise, mindfulness programs and yoga for cancer fatigue, anxiety and mood. Supports — never replaces — cancer treatment.

Approach 1 of 6

Conventional medicine (AMA)

Most people with cancer have a combination of treatments, such as surgery with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Which you get depends on the type of cancer and how advanced it is, and biomarker testing may help you and your doctor choose (National Cancer Institute).

1. The main types of treatment

  • Surgery removes cancer from the body.
  • Radiation therapy uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
  • Chemotherapy kills or stops the growth of cancer and other fast-growing cells.
  • Immunotherapy helps your immune system fight cancer.
  • Targeted therapy targets the changes in cancer cells that help them grow, divide and spread.
  • Hormone therapy slows or stops the growth of breast and prostate cancers that use hormones to grow.
  • Stem cell transplants restore blood-forming cells after very high doses of chemotherapy or radiation. Other treatments include hyperthermia and photodynamic therapy (NCI).

2. Managing side effects is part of treatment

  • Nausea and vomiting: anti-nausea medicines given before treatment work well to prevent or reduce them; they are harder to treat once they start, so tell your team early (NCI).
  • Fatigue: more than 80% of people getting chemotherapy or radiation have fatigue. It isn’t fully relieved by rest; tell your team, who can look for causes such as anemia, pain, poor sleep or depression (NCI).
  • Infection and bleeding risks: chemotherapy can lower white blood cells and platelets — see the emergency box at the top of this page (NCI, NCI).

3. Clinical trials

Clinical trials test new ways to find, prevent and treat cancer, and ways to manage side effects and improve quality of life. Today people live longer thanks to past trials (NCI). Ask about trials when you discuss treatment options; some are only open to people who haven’t started treatment (NCI). Many trial costs are covered by the study sponsor or your insurance; ask the study coordinator which costs are covered. Medicaid covers all routine patient care costs in a clinical trial, and Medicare may reimburse some costs of trials of new ways to diagnose or treat cancer (NCI). Taking part in a clinical trial is one legal way to try an experimental treatment (FDA).

4. Palliative care — at any stage, not only at the end

Palliative care improves quality of life for people with a serious illness such as cancer. It treats symptoms and side effects — such as pain, fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath and poor sleep — as early as possible, along with emotional, spiritual, practical and caregiver needs. Anyone can receive it, at any age or stage, from diagnosis on, and you can keep getting cancer treatment at the same time. Hospice is different: it begins when cure is no longer the goal (NCI). Some studies show early palliative care for advanced cancer can improve quality of life and mood and may even prolong survival, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology recommends it for everyone with advanced cancer. Ask your oncologist for a referral (NCI).

5. After treatment: follow-up and survivorship

When treatment ends, you should receive a written treatment summary and follow-up care plan — together called a survivorship care plan. People generally have check-ups every 3 to 4 months for the first 2 to 3 years, then once or twice a year. Tell your doctor about new symptoms, emotional problems and any new medicines, vitamins, herbs or supplements; some treatment effects (“late effects”) appear months or years later (NCI).

What it costs

Cancer is one of the most expensive medical conditions to treat in the U.S., and out-of-pocket costs (copays, deductibles and coinsurance) can cause “financial toxicity” even for people with insurance. Some survivors report spending more than 20% of their yearly income on medical care, and working people in treatment missed about 22 more workdays a year in one study (NCI). U.S. spending on cancer care was an estimated $208.9 billion in 2020 (NCI). Costs vary greatly by where you live, your insurance and the hospital (NCI). See Help paying for cancer care below.

How well it works — what to expect

Standard treatment is what controls and cures cancer. About 7 in 10 people diagnosed in the U.S. are alive 5 years later (NCI SEER), and overall cancer death rates have fallen since the early 1990s (NCI). Your own outlook depends on the type and stage of your cancer and how it responds — ask your oncologist what to expect.

Find a medical doctor in our directory

Approach 2 of 6

Chiropractic

Chiropractic care has no role in treating cancer. No complementary approach has been shown to prevent or cure cancer (NCCIH, U.S. National Institutes of Health), and a systematic review found the chiropractic literature on people with cancer is made up mostly of case reports and commentaries, and that the benefits of chiropractic care for them remain to be investigated (Integrative Cancer Therapies, 2012). Outside of cancer, spinal manipulation may give small improvements in low-back pain and can help acute neck pain (NCCIH).

Get your oncologist’s clearance first. Bone is one of the most common places cancer spreads, and cancer in the bone can cause pain and fractures (NCI). People with osteoporosis or cancer that has spread to the bone may be more likely to break a bone with activity that puts stress on the bones (American Cancer Society). Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer in the spine, and it can come back years after treatment; a 2022 report described a cancer survivor whose new back pain turned out to be cancer in the spine, and advised that hands-on therapies be used cautiously and under oncology supervision in such cases (American Journal of Case Reports, 2022).

Using chiropractic care safely

  • If you have had cancer and develop new or worsening back or neck pain, see your oncology team first rather than starting with adjustments (Am J Case Rep, 2022).
  • Tell the chiropractor about your diagnosis, treatment and any bone involvement; in the 2022 case, the oncologist approved only gentle traction and soft-tissue work while the patient continued radiation and chemotherapy (Am J Case Rep, 2022).
  • Tell your oncology team about any supplements a chiropractor suggests (NCI).

What it costs

A standard adjustment is about $50–$150 without insurance and $15–$50 with it; a first consultation $100–$250 (MedicalCostInfo). Some insurance plans cover chiropractic care; a referral from your cancer care team may help (American Cancer Society).

Find a chiropractor in our directory

Approach 3 of 6

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the best-studied complementary therapies in cancer care. It is used alongside treatment to ease symptoms and side effects — not to treat the cancer itself (National Cancer Institute).

What the research shows

Staying safe

  • Complications are few when sterile needles and proper procedures are used. Because chemotherapy and radiation weaken the immune system, a strict clean-needle method is a must for people with cancer (NCI, NCCIH).
  • The FDA requires sterile, single-use needles, and most states require certification from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) (NCI).
  • If your blood counts are low, ask your oncology team before a session. Chemotherapy can lower the white cells that fight infection and the platelets that stop bleeding, making you bruise or bleed more easily (NCI, NCI).
  • Acupuncturists sometimes suggest herbs. Check every herb with your oncology team first — see the herbal section below.

What it costs

Cash-pay follow-up visits run about $90–$185, first visits up to about $125–$230, and community acupuncture about $50–$90 (The Pricer). As one example of a hospital program, Memorial Sloan Kettering lists $145 for a private session and $70 for community acupuncture; insurance coverage varies a great deal, so call your plan first (Memorial Sloan Kettering).

Find an acupuncturist in our directory

Approach 4 of 6

Herbal medicine

No supplement cures cancer. There are no studies proving that any special diet, food, vitamin, mineral, dietary supplement or herb can slow cancer, cure it or keep it from coming back — and some can change how your cancer treatment works (National Cancer Institute). Talk with your oncology team before taking any herb, vitamin or supplement, and give them a complete list of what you already take (American Cancer Society).

Why supplements are a special concern during treatment

Where some products have been studied

Checking a product

Memorial Sloan Kettering’s free About Herbs database, kept up to date by a pharmacist and botanicals expert, lists the proven uses, possible side effects and drug interactions of common herbs and supplements (Memorial Sloan Kettering). If your team agrees to a supplement, look for quality seals such as USP or NSF, start one product at a time, and avoid mixtures of many ingredients (ACS). We don’t list doses here — that decision belongs to your oncology team and pharmacist.

What it costs

Cost estimate being researched.

Approach 5 of 6

Massage therapy

Massage can help many people with cancer feel calmer and more comfortable. There is no scientific evidence that it treats cancer (Cancer Research UK).

What the research shows

Does massage spread cancer?

Some people worry that massage could make cancer cells travel around the body, but no research has shown this to be true (Cancer Research UK).

Staying safe

What it costs

About $50–$90 for 45–60 minutes at clinics, gyms and spas, and $60–$120 with a private therapist (CostHelper). Specialized oncology massage can cost more: one cancer center lists $160 for 60 minutes and $98 for 30 minutes (Memorial Sloan Kettering). Insurance sometimes covers massage; a referral from your care team may help, and HSAs or FSAs may cover out-of-pocket costs (ACS).

Find a massage therapist in our directory

Approach 6 of 6

MBHA Wellness Coach

An MBHA Wellness Coach works alongside your cancer care team on the everyday things that help you get through treatment and recover — never as a substitute for it.

Staying active

  • For most people, exercise is safe and helpful before, during and after cancer treatment. It can improve quality of life and energy, reduce fatigue, and help with stress (American Cancer Society). An international exercise roundtable concluded that every survivor should “avoid inactivity,” and that exercise can improve anxiety, depressive symptoms, fatigue, physical functioning and quality of life (American College of Sports Medicine roundtable, 2019).
  • The ACS goal for survivors: start slowly and build up to 150–300 minutes of moderate activity (or 75–150 minutes of vigorous activity) a week, plus muscle strengthening at least 2 days a week (ACS).
  • Check with your team first, especially if you have heart or lung disease, severe fatigue, balance problems, an ostomy, or weak bones or cancer in the bone. Stay away from public gyms and crowds while your infection risk is high, and avoid contact sports (ACS).
  • Even 10 minutes of light activity a day helps if you’re very tired (ACS).

Managing fatigue

The 2024 ASCO–SIO guideline recommends exercise, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based programs, and tai chi or qigong to reduce fatigue during treatment; after treatment, exercise, CBT and mindfulness-based programs, with yoga, acupressure and moxibustion as further options (ASCO–SIO guideline, 2024). Keeping a fatigue diary to share with your care team can help (NCI).

Mind-body practices

  • For anxiety and low mood, the 2023 SIO–ASCO guideline recommends mindfulness-based interventions, yoga, relaxation, music therapy and reflexology during treatment (plus inhaled aromatherapy for anxiety), and mindfulness, yoga and tai chi or qigong after treatment (SIO–ASCO guideline, 2023).
  • A 2020 review of 26 studies found people with cancer in mindfulness programs had less anxiety, depression, fatigue and stress and better quality of life (NCCIH).
  • Safety: yoga is generally safe with a qualified instructor, but cancer may raise the risks — ask your care team which poses or practices to avoid. Meditation can be adapted if sitting still is uncomfortable (NCCIH).

Eating well

No single food or special diet has been proven to control cancer. Aim for a variety of healthy foods, and ask the doctor in charge of your treatment what you should eat, since needs differ (NCI). During treatment, follow food-safety steps: wash hands, cook meat, fish and eggs well, and keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold (NCI). For nausea, try small, frequent meals, bland or cold foods, plenty of fluids and avoiding strong smells (NCI).

Feelings, support and caregivers

Survivorship and follow-up

A coach can help you keep your survivorship care plan and treatment summary together, prepare questions, and keep track of follow-up visits — and make sure each of your doctors shares notes with the others (NCI). Staying active, eating well and keeping a healthy weight may help lower the risk of a second cancer, and a healthy lifestyle might lower the risk of some cancers coming back (ACS).

What it costs

Wellness coaching: MBHA cost estimate being researched. Many support groups are free, though some charge a small fee (NCI).

Another approach

Cancer screening tests

Screening means checking for cancer before you have symptoms. Regular screening can find breast, cervical, colorectal and lung cancers early, when treatment is likely to work best (CDC). These recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) are for people at average risk without symptoms — if you have symptoms or a strong family history, talk with your doctor.

Recommended tests

  • Breast: a mammogram every other year for women aged 40 to 74 (2024) (USPSTF, 2024).
  • Cervical: ages 21–29, a Pap test (cytology) every 3 years; ages 30–65, a Pap test every 3 years, a high-risk HPV test every 5 years, or both together every 5 years. Not recommended before 21, after 65 with adequate past screening, or after a hysterectomy that removed the cervix (for people without a history of precancer or cervical cancer) (USPSTF, 2018). The Task Force is updating this recommendation.
  • Colorectal: all adults 45 to 75 (USPSTF, 2021). Test options and costs are explained in our Bowel Problems guide.
  • Lung: a yearly low-dose CT scan for adults 50 to 80 who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and still smoke or quit within the past 15 years. (One pack-year is a pack a day for a year.) Screening stops after 15 years without smoking (USPSTF, 2021).
  • Prostate: for men 55 to 69, PSA screening is a personal decision to make with your clinician after discussing the small possible benefit and the harms — false alarms, biopsies, overtreatment, incontinence and erectile problems. Not recommended at 70 and older (USPSTF, 2018).

Screening for ovarian, pancreatic, testicular and thyroid cancers has not been shown to reduce deaths, and there is too little evidence to judge screening people without symptoms for bladder, oral or skin cancer (CDC).

What it costs

Another approach

Spotting false cancer cures

Products claiming to cure cancer are common on websites and social media. Legitimate cancer drugs and devices must be approved or cleared by the FDA before they are sold; bogus “treatments” come as pills, powders, creams, teas, oils and kits, are often called “natural,” and can cause harm by delaying or interfering with proven treatment — or by containing dangerous ingredients (U.S. Food and Drug Administration).

Red flags

  • Claims such as “treats all forms of cancer,” “miraculously kills cancer cells and tumors,” “shrinks malignant tumors,” “selectively kills cancer cells,” “more effective than chemotherapy,” “attacks cancer cells, leaving healthy cells intact” or “cures cancer” (FDA).
  • One product that claims to treat many unrelated diseases; personal “success” testimonials; quick fixes; “all-natural cure”; “miracle cure,” “new discovery,” “guaranteed results” or “secret ingredient”; and conspiracy claims such as “the cure Big Pharma doesn’t want you to know about” (FDA).
  • Products claiming benefits with no side effects — such claims are almost always fraudulent (American Cancer Society).
  • Sellers with a financial stake in the product. One study found about 1 in 3 social-media articles about cancer treatment contained incorrect or harmful information (ACS).

Products already shown not to work

Black salves sold for skin cancer are neither safe nor effective and can cause severe scarring; laetrile has no clinical evidence of benefit and can be toxic (NCCIH).

Before you try anything new, ask your care team

  • What are the risks and expected benefits? Do the benefits outweigh the risks?
  • Will it affect my standard treatment?
  • Is it part of a clinical trial, and who sponsors it?
  • Will insurance cover it? (NCI)

If you decide to give up proven treatment, know that you are doing so, and ask your team what options might still work if the alternative doesn’t (ACS). Report a bad reaction to a product to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (FDA).

Another approach

Help paying for cancer care

Worry about money is common, even with insurance — and it’s worth raising early. Tell your care team if costs could be a burden, so treatment decisions can take that into account (National Cancer Institute).

  • Ask for a financial counselor or social worker at your hospital about payment plans and programs beyond insurance (NCI). When choosing a cancer center, ask whether it offers social workers and help finding financial assistance (NCI).
  • Nonprofit help with medicines, travel, lodging, copays and living costs: CancerCare, the Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition, the HealthWell Foundation and, for blood cancers, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Triage Cancer offers legal and practical help (NCI).
  • Insurance: if you are uninsured, compare plans at HealthCare.gov (1-800-318-2596); if you can’t afford insurance and don’t qualify for Medicaid or Medicare, ask hospitals about charity care and sliding-scale fees (NCI). The No Surprises Act bans surprise bills for emergency care and for out-of-network providers at in-network facilities (NCI).
  • Palliative care is usually covered by private insurance, and Medicare and Medicaid pay for some kinds (NCI).
  • Clinical trials: Medicaid covers routine patient care costs in a trial; ask the research team about help with travel and lodging (NCI).
  • Integrative therapies: acupuncture, chiropractic and massage are sometimes covered; ask your care team for a referral, which insurers may require, and check whether an HSA or FSA can pay (ACS).
  • NCI’s Cancer Information Service (1-800-4-CANCER) can refer you to emotional, practical and financial support (NCI).

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This page is for education only and is not medical advice. Costs are typical U.S. ranges and estimates; yours will depend on your provider, location and insurance. Talk with your doctor before starting, stopping or combining any treatment. In an emergency, call 911. See our disclaimer.

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The Monterey Bay Holistic Alliance is a charitable, independent registered nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and does not endorse any particular products or practices. Claims and statements herein are for informational purposes only and have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. We strongly recommend that you seek out your trusted medical doctor or practitioner for diagnosis and treatment of any existing health condition. MBHA provides administrative support, education and navigation — not medical, legal or tax advice — and cannot guarantee claim, billing or fundraising outcomes. MBHA is not an emergency service: in an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.