CCA recognizes only scientifically proven therapies and legitimate clinical trials for the treatment of colorectal cancer. The scientific method involves rigorous testing, or controlled clinical trials, of all treatment options. The scientific method is the gold standard because it is the only proven means of arriving at supportable conclusions to ensure the effectiveness of palliative or curative care.

CCA recognizes that many complementary therapies — vitamins, nutrition supplements, acupuncture, meditation, visualization, and so on — may be helpful to some patients during treatment. Growing interest in complementary therapy has stimulated more and more research on the efficacy of these modalities of care.

Frequently, however, there is no conclusive scientific evidence on the impact of a particular complementary therapy. Some therapies — mega-vitamin doses and herbal supplements, for example — could actually be harmful to patients undergoing standard treatment for colorectal cancer.

CCA does not recognize or endorse any so-called "miracle cures" or alternative treatments for colorectal cancer.

If you are considering any unproven or non-traditional complementary therapies, take two steps before you accept them:

1. Research the therapy carefully and completely.
2. Discuss the therapy fully with your physician.

Where can you go for more information?
CCA recommends the following resources for more information on complementary or alternative therapies:

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), provides much information about complementary and alternative treatments.

A websource on so-called "miracle cures" can be found at http://www.quackwatch.com or http://www.hcrc.org.

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