CancerChoices

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CancerChoices An independent, science-backed resource helping you make informed choices in integrative cancer care.
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We offer balanced views of conventional, self, and complementary cancer care. We curate the best available evidence on complementary cancer therapies. And you will find inspiring stories of healing from those who have walked this path before you. We are a unique resource for you at any point in your cancer journey. CancerChoices is a program of Commonweal, a nonprofit institute in Bolinas, California.

Most people know smoking is linked to cancer. But many people are less aware that alcohol can also play a role in cancer...
10/10/2026

Most people know smoking is linked to cancer. But many people are less aware that alcohol can also play a role in cancer risk. A recent article highlights new research showing that while overall cancer death rates have gone down, the share of cancer deaths linked to alcohol has increased.

This isn’t about shame or blame. It’s about helping people have clear information so they can make choices that support their long-term health. For some people, that might mean drinking less. For others, it might mean talking with a healthcare provider about personal risk factors, such as family history, to***co use, or other health concerns.

Read more from MedPage Today: https://www.medpagetoday.com/hematologyoncology/othercancers/122898

Turkey tail mushroom comes up often in conversations about cancer care, especially around immune support and supplements...
10/08/2026

Turkey tail mushroom comes up often in conversations about cancer care, especially around immune support and supplements that may be used alongside treatment.

Our CancerChoices therapy review looks at what the research says about turkey tail, including where the evidence is most promising, what safety concerns to consider, and why it should not be used as a stand-alone cancer treatment.

Before adding turkey tail or any supplement to your care plan, talk with your oncology team.

Read the full review: https://cancerchoices.org/therapy/turkey-tail-mushroom/

Food choices during cancer treatment can feel confusing — especially when new research about fasting and chemotherapy ma...
10/06/2026

Food choices during cancer treatment can feel confusing — especially when new research about fasting and chemotherapy makes headlines.

A small American Society of Clinical Oncology study looked at short-term fasting before and after chemotherapy in people with high-grade serous ovarian cancer. Researchers found encouraging early signs, including lower insulin levels and improved treatment response in this small group.

But fasting during treatment is not right for everyone. Your weight, blood sugar, treatment plan, and overall health all matter. Before fasting or making major diet changes during chemotherapy, talk with your oncology team.

Learn more in our CancerChoices review on fasting and calorie restriction in cancer care:
https://cancerchoices.org/therapy/fasting/

Read more on the ASCO study:
https://www.asco.org/about-asco/press-center/fasting-before-after-chemo-ovarian

Healing is not always the same as curing.A new essay fromDr. Wayne Jonas with Healing Works Foundation explores what it...
09/30/2026

Healing is not always the same as curing.

A new essay fromDr. Wayne Jonas with Healing Works Foundation explores what it means to relieve suffering — not only by treating disease, but by seeing the whole person: their daily life, relationships, hopes, fears, identity, and sense of meaning.

For people living with serious illness, this distinction matters. A person can be cured and still suffer. A person can also live with ongoing illness and still experience healing.

At CancerChoices, this resonates deeply with our belief in whole-person cancer care — care that addresses the body, mind, spirit, relationships, and what matters most to each person.

Read the full essay from Healing Works Foundation: What Does It Mean to Transcend Suffering?

https://healingworksfoundation.org/transcend-suffering/

Life with cancer can make even simple routines feel harder.Meals, movement, sleep, stress, relationships — the things th...
09/28/2026

Life with cancer can make even simple routines feel harder.

Meals, movement, sleep, stress, relationships — the things that usually help us feel steady can be difficult to keep up with during treatment, recovery, or caregiving.

The 7-Day Whole-Person Reset is a free email series created for people living with cancer and those caring for them. Each day, you’ll receive one small, realistic practice to support healing, resilience, and well-being.

No pressure. No perfection. Just gentle support, one day at a time.

Sign up for the free series here: https://cancerchoices.org/community/7-day-whole-person-reset/

For some people with low-risk prostate cancer, immediate treatment may not always be the best first step.A recent MedPag...
09/26/2026

For some people with low-risk prostate cancer, immediate treatment may not always be the best first step.

A recent MedPage Today article highlights a large JAMA study showing that active surveillance has increased dramatically in the VA healthcare system — rising from 27% to 93% among men with low-risk prostate cancer between 2005 and 2024.

Active surveillance is not the same as doing nothing. It means carefully monitoring the cancer over time, often with PSA testing, follow-up visits, and repeat imaging or biopsies when needed.

This shift reflects an important change in prostate cancer care: helping some people avoid or delay treatment side effects while still keeping a close watch on the cancer.

Read the article from MedPage Today to learn more: https://www.medpagetoday.com/hematologyoncology/prostatecancer/122679

Nausea can be one of those side effects people try to push through. But there are ways to help.Our side effect guide exp...
09/24/2026

Nausea can be one of those side effects people try to push through. But there are ways to help.

Our side effect guide explores approaches that may offer support, including anti-nausea medications and evidence-informed complementary therapies.

If nausea or vomiting is affecting you, it’s worth a conversation with your care team about what may be causing it and which options are safe for you.

Explore the full guide here:
https://cancerchoices.org/side-effect/nausea-and-vomiting/

Cancer treatment decisions can feel overwhelming — especially in the shock of a new diagnosis.It can help to have a simp...
09/22/2026

Cancer treatment decisions can feel overwhelming — especially in the shock of a new diagnosis.

It can help to have a simple framework.

Our CancerChoices decision-making model walks through six steps:

Time. Diagnosis. Options. Decide. Act. Review.

Each step includes questions to ask your doctor, questions to ask yourself, and reminders to help you slow down, gather information, and make choices that align with your goals, values, and wishes.

Cancer treatment decisions should not be made for you — but with you.

Read the full guide: https://cancerchoices.org/resources/cancer-handbooks/how-to-integrate-your-choices/making-skillful-cancer-treatment-decisions/

Turmeric is familiar to many people as a spice. But curcumin—one of its active compounds—is more complex when we’re talk...
09/19/2026

Turmeric is familiar to many people as a spice. But curcumin—one of its active compounds—is more complex when we’re talking about cancer care.

Our updated therapy review looks at how turmeric and curcumin may support people with cancer, including what the evidence suggests about treatment outcomes, side effects, inflammation, oxidative stress, blood sugar balance, and other body terrain factors.

The review also explains why safety matters. Curcumin may not be right for everyone, especially during chemotherapy, oral cancer medications, or before surgery, and it’s important to talk with your oncology team before using it therapeutically.

Read the full review here: https://cancerchoices.org/therapy/turmeric-and-curcumin/

Sexual health changes during or after cancer are common — but they are often left out of the conversation.Join us for Se...
09/17/2026

Sexual health changes during or after cancer are common — but they are often left out of the conversation.

Join us for Sexual Health in Cancer Care, a free webinar with Erin Sullivan-Wagner, Executive Director of After Cancer and an a**l cancer survivor whose own experience with lasting treatment-related side effects inspired her work.

This supportive session will explore how cancer treatment can affect sexual health and intimacy, why these changes are not always discussed, and how to start conversations with your care team and partner.

You’ll also learn practical tools for rebuilding connection, communicating openly, and navigating intimacy during treatment or survivorship.

Tuesday, October 6
11 AM PT / 2 PM ET

Register here: https://cancerchoices.org/community/events/free-webinar-sexual-health-in-cancer-care/

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