Complementary cancer methods and evaluation of their efficiency: a literature review

Sigita Liutkauskienė1, Rūta Minelgaitė2, Ieva Petkutė2 

1Department of  Conservative Oncology, Lithuania University of Health Sciences

2Lithuania University of Health Sciences, Academy of Medicine, Faculty of medicine

 

Abstract: Complementary methods for cancer treatment are an aspect of interest for scientists, who research possible interactions between complementary therapy and the course, furthermore clinical outcomes of the disease. Physical activity, stress management, low-fat, high-fruit, and vegetable diet are not only a right cancer-prevention, but also potential remedies for quality of life and survival improvement, unfortunately are being used to little among patients.

Aim: by analyzing the scientific literature about the complementary cancer treatment methods to find out the benefits of them for colorectal, breast, pancreatic or prostate cancer.

Methods: literature sources were selected from the PubMed scientific database, using the key words and their combinations: ,,cancer“ and ,,complementary treatment“.

Results: physical activity and balanced diet have a positive effect on the course of the colorectal and breast cancer. Curcumin may enhance anticancer effects of treatment based on gemcitabine or docetaxel. Lifestyle modification leads to better clinical outcomes for prostate cancer.

Conclusion: most data was based on a positive correlation between  physical activity and breast, prostate and colorectal cancer. Increased consumption of soy products is an advantageous remedy for breast cancer prevention. The diet of low-fat, high-fruit and vegetable significantly reduces the chance of relapse of breast cancer. Furthermore, we discussed curcumin, which is expected to have antitumor effect. Modificated factors of dietary and lifestyle have a positive effect on the progression of prostate cancer.

Keywords: cancer, physical activity, nutrition, stress management, complementary, oncology.