Alternative treatments of cancer: trends over time and implications for the future.

There has been increasing utilization of alternative treatments for cancer, affected primarily by the dissatisfaction of the public with the outcomes of conventional treatments. Mortality rates from cancer have been increasing over time while spending by government on conventional cancer research rose. The lack of clinical trials on alternative therapies has left them open to criticism by mainstream medicine. Pharmaceutical companies have not funded trials because of an anticipated negative result to their profits. The government also has not shown much interest in research on alternative treatments although large expenditures on conventional treatments have not produced successful results. There is substantial evidence to support effectiveness of alternative therapies, based primarily on retrospective studies and case studies. Recently, clinical trials have been initiated with government approval, for a few alternative therapies; and such government involvement would improve the information available on treatments, to the benefit of the public.