The role of complementary medicine in the treatment of prostate cancer.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has recently attracted national attention in the United States because of its widespread use and associated cost. CAM covers a broad spectrum of healing philosophies and approaches. Despite its widespread use, little is known about its safety, efficacy, cost effectiveness, and mechanism of action. The role of CAM in the management of prostate cancer is becoming more apparent with its rise in use among patients who are suffering from prostate cancer. This trend is patient-driven and reflects the change in values perceived by patients toward conventional medical treatment. In this review, several complementary therapies that can be used for prevention and treatment of prostate cancer are discussed. These therapies were selected because they are supported by scientific evidence. The popularity of CAM continues to grow and CAM is here to stay. Health care professionals can no longer afford to ignore or to treat CAM as an entity outside of conventional science. To acknowledge and to monitor its use among our patients may in the future help evaluate the safety and efficacy of CAM. Our current challenge is to move the field of CAM forward scientifically and systematically with wisdom and reasoning.