The prince and the professor: Integrated approach is needed

doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7470.857-c

BMJ 2004;329:857-858 (9 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7470.857-c

Letter

The prince and the professor

Integrated approach is needed

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—The Prince of Wales's keynote speech to the jointsymposium, which this foundation, the National Cancer ResearchInstitute, and four of the United Kingdom's leading cancer charities(Marie Curie Cancer Care, Bristol Cancer Help Centre, MacmillanCancer Relief, and Breakthrough Breast Cancer) held in June,attracted considerable media attention.^1
2 Much of the interestwas generated by inaccurate and misleading reports of the speech.

We all want to understand what works and what doesn't, whetherthat be conventional, complementary, or alternative approachesto cancer.

As the Prince of Wales pointed out, if up to 80% of patientswith cancer try complementary or alternative treatments afterdiagnosis then surely it makes sense to investigate their efficacy.The report by the Science and Technology Select Committee onComplementary and Alternative Medicine in December 2000 recommendedthat the Department of Health should provide dedicated researchfunding in this area to develop "centres . . . [Full text of this article]

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Michael Fox, chief executive

The Prince of Wales's Foundation for Integrated Health, London N7 8QJ Michael@fihealth.org.uk