Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Thyroid Disease …

WHAT IS COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE (CAM)?

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is defined as a medical system, practice or product that is not usually thought of as standard care. Standard medical care is care that is based on scientific evidence. For thyroid cancer, standard care includes surgery, radioactive iodine and thyroid hormone suppression therapy. For patients with other thyroid diseases, standard care may include thyroid hormone suppression or supplementation.

The National Institutes of Health National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NIH NCCAM) defines complementary medicine as being used along with standard medical treatments, and alternative medicine as being used in place of standard medical treatments. Integrative medicine is a comprehensive approach to care that includes a patients mind body and spirit; this combines standard medicine with CAM practices.

The NIH NCCAM uses five categories to describe the different types of CAM. It would be difficult to create a comprehensive list, but some examples are described below:

These are based on a belief that the mind is able to affect your body. Examples include:

These include things most often found in nature, and includes dietary supplements and herbal products. Examples include:

A note about Biologically-Based Practices. Its common for patients with thyroid cancer or thyroid disease to be recommended to practice a special diet that avoids foods that contain iodine. In fact, use of iodine either in liquid form or as a supplement is not recommended. Its also common for patients to be told to take Vitamin D or calcium supplementation. In one sense, physicians who treat patients with thyroid disease are therefore recommending a few highly selected biologically based practices. While these practices can be helpful, its important to note that there is no one special diet or vitamin that has been proven to eliminate cancer or remove thyroid disease. Because of these special reasons, its important to talk with the doctor managing your treatment about any special diets or supplements you are thinking about using.

These are based on working with the body and are thought to have underlying benefits for the mind as well. Examples include:

Energy medicine invokes the belief that the body has energy fields that can be manipulated for healing and wellness. Examples include:

These systems include beliefs and approaches to healing and wellness that come from all of the world and from many cultures. Examples include:

There are few studies that have looked at why patients with thyroid disease choose CAM. Some of the reasons they state are to:

A diagnosis of thyroid cancer or thyroid disease can be stressful or worrisome. Some patients who are newly diagnosed may want to add to their physicians recommendations or even avoid allopathic treatment entirely. Its natural to want to be well and to think about what else you can do to improve your health. There is a lot of information available, and new approaches for treating thyroid cancer and thyroid disease are always being tested. It can be hard to tell the difference between what is standard care and what is complementary and alternative medicine. This brochure is intended to help you understand what to consider as you make these choices. The most important message is to talk with your doctor about what you are already using and before you try anything new.

Some patients are afraid their doctor wont understand or approve of the use of CAM; some physicians may not understand or approve of this in their patients. But physicians know that their patients want to take an active role in their treatment. We want the best for our patients and would prefer an open line of communication. Talking with your physician about CAM is particularly important because we want to ensure that your treatment works well, and some CAM that may seem safe could potentially interfere with your treatment.

Do you know what types of CAM might help me deal with the side effects of treatment?

Will CAM interfere with my treatment or medicines?

Can you help me understand what I have read/ heard about CAM?

Supplements do not have to be approved by the federal government before being sold to the public, and a prescription is not needed to buy them. The same is true for most CAM practices. There are ads and claims that a certain product has been used for years, or that they are effective in fighting cancer; these claims do not prove that these approaches are safe or effective. Some of these therapies can cost thousands of dollars. Its important for you as a consumer to decide what is best for you, but you should be careful. Tell your physician if you are using any form of CAM, no matter how safe you think it is. Here are some facts about biological products you may find surprising:

CAM practitioners are people who should have training and experience in CAM treatment. You should choose one as carefully and thoughtfully as you choose your physician. Be careful of products advertised that claim they have a cure but do not give specific information about how well their product works or claim they have only positive results without side effects. Here are some approaches to remember when finding a practitioner:

There is a lot of information about CAM and its difficult to know who to trust. Good places to start are listed to the right. Here are some key questions to ask as you evaluate CAM information:

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Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Thyroid Disease ...