Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Cancer Survivorship
1Academic Unit of Primary Care, School of Social and Community Medicine, The University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol BS8 2AP, UK
2Lynda Jackson Macmillan Centre (LJMC), Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, Middlesex, UK
3Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
4Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Cancer Survivorship
Description
There is rapidly growing interest in the field of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in relation to cancer care. Evidence demonstrates that numerous CAM approaches can be used as support during the acute treatment of cancer and during posttreatment as a way of getting and staying well.
In the UK, the Cancer Reform Strategy (2007) outlined the need for a National Cancer Survivorship Initiative to improve the care and support provided for those living with and beyond cancer. This is reflected across the world with health care research investigating new models of cancer care. The National Cancer Institute (US) defines an individual as a cancer survivor from the time of cancer diagnosis, through the balance of his or her life. CAM can play an important role in this approach.
For this special edition of CAM and cancer, we welcome original research and review articles on the role of CAM in all aspects of care in cancer survivorship. We encourage both quantitative and qualitative papers as well as innovative methodology, which can further our understanding of how to conduct meaningful CAM research and enhance clinical practice in order to improve the lives of cancer patients. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
- Mind–body therapies, natural (herbal) products, aromatherapy, acupuncture, homeopathy, traditional healing systems, and physical exercise
- Integrating conventional medicine and CAM in supportive care
- Whole systems approaches to cancer and treatment
- The role of spirituality in cancer care
- The use of dietary supplements
- Innovative nutritional approaches to survivorship
- The role for manual-based therapies during and after cancer treatment
- The integration of CAM in hospice and palliative cancer care
- Safety issues in the use of CAM for cancer
Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/ according to the following timetable: