Current issues in the delivery of complementary therapies in cancer care--policy, perceptions and expectations: an overview.

This review discusses the current policies, perceptions and expectations around the use of complementary therapies (CTs) in cancer care. Whilst the last two decades have seen a marked increase in the demand for and provision of CTs amongst cancer patients, this has not been matched with an increase in the understanding of their effectiveness or their benefits to cancer patients. The issues discussed highlight the need to understand more fully the benefits of integrated services. Important questions raised here relate to what patients perceive as being the primary benefits/expected outcomes of CTs and how, if at all, they see their relationship with CT practitioners as different from that with "orthodox" clinicians. The challenge is clearly to find a common ground between "orthodox" professionals, CT practitioners and patients.