Rung 5 · Established
Standard treatment from your oncology team
Surgery, radiation, drug and hormone therapy remain the foundation.
TreatmentWith your doctor
What studies found
Patients with curable cancers who chose alternative medicine instead had 2.5 times the risk of death over follow-up, and more than five times for breast cancer.
The catch
Complementary approaches belong alongside treatment, not instead of it.
What to do
A second opinion at a major cancer center is reasonable for complex decisions. Bring a list of every supplement you take.
Sources
Rung 5 of 5, Established: Large randomized trials or overwhelming, consistent human evidence; reflected in major guidelines. How we score
To take it to your doctor, print this page.
Related
- Active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancerRung 5 · EstablishedWith your doctorRung 5 · EstablishedTreatmentWith your doctor
- Gene-matched drugs for metastatic prostate cancerRung 5 · EstablishedWith your doctorRung 5 · EstablishedTreatmentWith your doctor
- PSMA radioligand therapy (Pluvicto)Rung 5 · EstablishedWith your doctorRung 5 · EstablishedTreatmentWith your doctor
- Structured exercise after colon cancerRung 5 · EstablishedYou can do thisRung 5 · EstablishedTreatmentYou can do this
- Test every colorectal tumor for mismatch repair and gene changesRung 5 · EstablishedWith your doctorRung 5 · EstablishedTreatmentWith your doctor
Every option we rated, or follow one cancer step by step: breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer.