Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Cancer Care: An International Analysis of Grassroots Integration

Drawing on comparative fieldwork in the UK, Pakistan and Australia, this book provides the first systematic assessment of pathways and access to CAM and how it is used in health practice and by individuals with cancer.

Giving fresh and invaluable insights into how differing health and societal structures influence the use complementary and alternative medicine, the book explores:

• the empirical, theoretical, and policy context for the study of CAM/TM and cancer
• the history and character of the eight support groups in which fieldwork took place in the UK, Australia and Pakistan
• the nature and structure of patient support groups' history, affiliation and evolution
• how groups function on a day-to-day basis
• the extent to which what is being offered in these CAM-oriented groups is in any way innovative and challenging to the therapeutic and organisational mainstream
• the value of sociological work in the field which is not tied to immediate and narrow policy objectives.

This is an essential resource for those studying complementary and alternative medicine sociologically, to those involved in the provision of cancer care on a day-to-day basis, and to those looking to establish a more informed (evidence-based) policy.

Over the last decade, complementary and alternative medicine has achieved an ever-higher profile amongst academics, healthcare professionals, policy makers and service users - particularly in cancer care. Despite this, and although we aware that user groups and informal networks play an increasingly important role in advocating and providing such therapies, we know little or nothing about how such groups and networks operate and the way in which they impact on individuals' use of CAM for cancer. This book provides the first systematic assessment of pathways and access to CAM and how it is used in health practice and by individuals with cancer. The book draws on comparative fieldwork in the UK, Pakistan and Australia, which provides invaluable insight into how differing health and societal structures influence the use CAM. Because of its focus on grassroots action the book will be of wide interest to those studying complementary and alternative medicine sociologically, to those involved in the provision of cancer care on a day-to-day basis, and to those looking to establish a more informed (evidence based) policy.