Cancer Council response
October 8, 2013
The Cancer Council of NSW says
it’s not opposed to complementary
therapies, clarifying its position
statement which generated a
strong response from the industry
earlier this year (PD 08 Mar 2013).
Both the Australian Self-
Medication Industry and the
Complementary Healthcare Council
reacted to the Cancer Council
document, each robustly criticising
its negative implications about
complementary medicines which
ASMI said “play a central part in
Australia’s healthcare system”.
However Cancer Council
spokesman Luke Alexander told
PD that although the position
statement does highlight some
potential risks with complementary
and alternative therapies, “we have
a large section on their benefits”.
Alexander said the document also
highlights research showing that
complementary and alternative
therapies use among cancer
patients and survivors reduced
stress and depression levels, as
well as other benefits such as
acupuncture’s effect in reducing
chemotherapy-induced vomiting.
“Cancer Council NSW has
dedicated resources about
complementary therapies,” he said,
with one of the organisation’s most
comprehensive support booklets
(77 pages in length) dedicated
to providing an overview of
complementary therapies in cancer
care and clarifying the difference
between complementary and
alternative therapies.
Alexander said he was keen
to clarify the Council’s position,
contradicting any suggestions
that it is against complementary
therapies and highlight the wide
range of resources it offers to
patients considering them.
See www.nswcc.org.au.
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