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Majority of male cancer patients use alternative medicine

More than 50% of men diagnosed with cancer in Australia are utilising alternative medicine in an effort to fight the illness, say researchers from the University of Adelaide.

A questionnaire of 400 men revealed the modification of diet, as well as in increase in activities such as meditation, yoga and exercise were used in conjunction with more conventional treatments.

The most commonly identified natural therapy was the use of dietary supplements, followed by prayer and then herbs and botanical.

Clinicians have warned that the use of botanicals can be problematic given the possibility of adverse interactions with prescribed medications, but researchers acknowledged that many complementary therapies have the potential to help reduce common side-effects of cancer treatment and disease symptoms.

Read more at University of Adelaide

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