"Natural therapies work as well as chemo": what happens when people choose alternative medicine alone
No. In a US study of people with curable cancers, those who chose only alternative medicine were 2.5 times more likely to die over the follow-up period than similar people who had standard treatment, and 5.7 times more likely for breast cancer. Food, movement, sleep and stress management can genuinely help how you feel, with strength, energy and quality of life. But they belong alongside medical treatment, never instead of it.
Search for cancer online and it won't be long before you find someone claiming that juices, herbs, supplements or special diets work "just as well as chemo", without the side effects. When you or someone you love is frightened, that promise can be incredibly tempting.
This is the most important myth-check I'll ever write, so I want to show you exactly what the research found, how strong it is, and where food and lifestyle genuinely fit.
What the study did
Researchers at Yale used the US National Cancer Database to compare people who chose alternative medicine alone with people who had standard treatment. The results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 2018.
- Who: people diagnosed between 2004 and 2013 with breast, prostate, lung or bowel cancer that hadn't spread to distant parts of the body, so all were potentially curable.
- Groups: 281 people who chose only alternative medicine and no standard treatment, matched with 560 similar people (by age, cancer type, stage, other health conditions and more) who had standard treatment.
- Follow-up: a median of 66 months, about five and a half years.
What it found
| Cancer type | Risk of death with alternative medicine alone | 95% range | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| All four cancers together | 2.5 times higher | 1.88 to 3.27 | Significant |
| Breast | 5.68 times higher | 3.22 to 10.04 | Significant |
| Bowel (colorectal) | 4.57 times higher | 1.66 to 12.61 | Significant |
| Lung | 2.17 times higher | 1.42 to 3.32 | Significant |
| Prostate | 1.68 times higher | Not statistically clear | Not significant |
The prostate result wasn't statistically clear, which makes sense: many early prostate cancers grow very slowly, so differences take much longer to show. For the other cancers, the gap was large.
How robust is this?
For ethical reasons, nobody can run a trial that randomly assigns people with curable cancer to skip treatment. So this kind of study is the best evidence we're likely to get. It has real limits:
- Observational. People who chose alternative medicine may have differed in ways the database didn't capture, such as income or attitudes to healthcare. Matching helps, but can't remove every difference.
- Small numbers for some cancers, which is why some of the ranges are wide.
- No detail on the therapies. The database recorded that people chose "other, unproven" treatment, but not exactly what they used.
- Rare choice. Very few people choose alternative medicine alone, so the study had to look across many years to find them.
Even with those caveats, the direction and size of the difference are hard to explain away.
Where food and lifestyle genuinely help
Choosing lifestyle alongside treatment, rather than instead of it, is where the evidence is encouraging. These changes support how you feel, with your team's OK.
| Change | What the research shows | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Staying active, at your own pace | International guidelines found that around 30 minutes of moderate activity 3 times a week, plus strength exercise twice a week, improved fatigue, anxiety, depression, physical function and quality of life in people with cancer. | Strong |
| Getting enough protein | European nutrition experts (ESPEN) recommend adequate protein during and after cancer treatment, to help maintain muscle. A protein food at every meal is a simple way to start. | Expert guidance |
| Eating a varied, plant-rich diet | The World Cancer Research Fund advises plenty of wholegrains, vegetables, fruit and beans, and limiting fast food, red and processed meat, sugary drinks and alcohol, unless your team advises otherwise. | Expert guidance |
| Avoiding restrictive "anti-cancer" diets | Cancer Research UK warns that cutting out food groups during treatment can make it harder to get the energy and protein you need, and could hamper recovery. | UK guidance |
This is the honest version of "natural" support: everyday habits that help you feel stronger, working with your treatment, not against it.
Support around your treatment, not instead of it
Wanting to do something for yourself during cancer is completely natural. My coaching gives that energy somewhere safe and useful to go.
Eating well on hard days
Simple, realistic ways to get enough protein and energy, built around your appetite, taste changes and tiredness.
Moving in a way that suits you
Gentle, gradual activity planned around your energy, and agreed with your team.
Sleep and stress
Small routines that help you rest and cope with the uncertainty, at a pace that feels manageable.
Cutting through the noise
When someone sends you a "miracle cure", I'll help you check the evidence calmly, so you can make choices with confidence.
My take
I work with nutrition and lifestyle every day, and I believe in what they can do. That's exactly why I'm so clear about this. Habits can help you feel stronger, sleep better, keep your energy up and cope with the hardest days. Promising more than that isn't fair to anyone.
If someone is telling you, or someone you love, to skip treatment, please talk to your oncology team. And if you'd like support with the everyday habits around your treatment, that's what I do with my clients.
Frequently asked questions
Can alternative medicine cure cancer?
There's no good evidence that alternative medicine alone cures cancer. In a US study of curable cancers, people who chose only alternative medicine were 2.5 times more likely to die than similar people who had standard treatment.
Is it safe to use complementary therapies alongside cancer treatment?
Some can help with wellbeing, but some herbs and supplements can interact with treatment. Always tell your oncology team about anything you take or plan to try.
Which cancer showed the biggest difference in the study?
Breast cancer: people who chose alternative medicine alone were 5.7 times more likely to die over the follow-up period.
Can diet and exercise help during cancer treatment?
They can help how you feel. International guidelines found regular exercise improved fatigue, mood, physical function and quality of life, and nutrition experts recommend enough protein to help maintain muscle. They support treatment, they don't replace it.
Sources
- Johnson SB, Park HS, Gross CP, Yu JB. Use of alternative medicine for cancer and its impact on survival. J Natl Cancer Inst 2018;110:121-124. Read it
- Campbell KL, Winters-Stone KM, Wiskemann J, et al. Exercise guidelines for cancer survivors: consensus statement from international multidisciplinary roundtable. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2019;51:2375-2390. Read it
- Muscaritoli M, Arends J, Bachmann P, et al. ESPEN practical guideline: clinical nutrition in cancer. Clin Nutr 2021;40:2898-2913.
- World Cancer Research Fund / American Institute for Cancer Research. Cancer Prevention Recommendations.
- Cancer Research UK. Sugar and cancer: what you need to know. 2023. Read it
Follow @habitiahealth on Instagram for a new evidence check most days.
I'm Shivy, a certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach (Institute for Integrative Nutrition, 2020). I have a degree in biology and a master's in environmental science, and I've lived with psoriasis since 2019. I read the research on food, sleep, stress and movement and turn it into small, realistic habits. More about me.
This article is education, not medical advice. Always follow the advice of your GP or medical team, and check with them before changing your diet or supplements.
