Complementary Medicine during Cancer Care

Complementary medicine, also known as integrative medicine, uses wellness practices to help people cope with cancer, persistent pain, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and other medical conditions. Integrative therapies, such as stress management, meditation, massage therapy and acupuncture, are intended to complement — not replace — conventional Western medicine. Combining integrative therapies with conventional medicine aims to help patients better manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life by reducing fatigue, pain and anxiety.

On this episode of the Mayo Clinic Radio program, Dr. Brent Bauer, director of research for the Mayo Clinic Integrative Medicine Program, shares how integrative medicine is used in cancer care.