Summary: Many types of cancer can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy or a combination of these. But, more and more patients are adding non-traditional therapies, such as acupuncture, yoga, Tai chi and herbal medicine, to their treatment regimen. Dr. Ting Bao, an oncologist and medical acupuncturist who treats patients at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, says some of these therapies, such as acupuncture, can help patients deal with side effects of their cancer treatment. In this interview with Karen Warmkessel, Dr. Bao, who is also an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, describes the five categories of complementary medicine and what patients should know about them. She says patients should always check with their doctor before using non-traditional therapies because they might interfere with their treatment.
