Talking to your doctor

Your doctor needs to know about any complementary therapies you are using or thinking about using. Many people don’t say anything because they're afraid their doctors will disapprove. Others believe they are using something natural and non-toxic and therefore don’t need to tell their doctors.

Talking to your doctor will help make sure that any complementary therapy you are using – or plan to use – is safe and will not get in the way of your conventional treatment.

Be prepared that your doctor might question the complementary therapy, or not really be interested in talking about it. Many doctors who are trained in conventional medicine have received very little training or information on complementary medicine. They might not be comfortable advising you on these therapies.

Tips for talking to your doctor

Since your doctor may not ask, here are some tips you might find helpful to start the conversation:

Tell your doctor that you would like to talk about a complementary therapy and ask if you could arrange some time to do so.
Avoid bringing stacks of paper to your appointment. Instead, focus on the therapies you are most interested in trying.
Explain why you are interested in using a specific therapy.
Bring in a list of specific questions you have about using the therapy. For example:

When would it be safe for me to use this therapy with my conventional cancer treatment?
What is a safe dose of this therapy?
Are there any known risks or benefits related to using this therapy?
Will you help me track both the benefits and side effects of the therapy?
Do you have any suggestions about other complementary therapies that could be helpful for my type of cancer?

If your doctor can’t answer your questions, ask for a referral to another healthcare professional, such as a pharmacist, dietitian or a nurse.

Last modified on: 13 September 2011