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

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

We all want to understand what works and what doesn't, whether that be conventional, complementary, or alternative approaches to cancer.

As the Prince of Wales pointed out, if up to 80% of patients with cancer try complementary or alternative treatments after diagnosis then surely it makes sense to investigate their efficacy. The report by the Science and Technology Select Committee on Complementary and Alternative Medicine in December 2000 recommended that the Department of Health should provide dedicated research funding in this area to develop "centres of excellence." It has been good to see that, in response, the Department of Health has made funding available (particularly in its endeavour to build up research capacity), but more needs to be done.

The National Cancer Research Institute's establishment of a special interest group on research into complementary therapies is a significant step forward in cancer and one that this foundation strongly supports. As the Prince of Wales said, it is essential to adopt a collaborative approach to cancer research—one that takes into account all methods used by patients with cancer.

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

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Competing interests: The Prince of Wales, is the president of the Foundation for Integrated Health.

References

1. Baum M. An open letter to the Prince of Wales: with respect, your highness, you've got it wrong. BMJ 2004;329: 118. (10 July.)[Free Full Text]
2. Prince of Wales. Speeches and articles: health. Available at: www.princeofwales.gov.uk/speeches/health_24062004.html (accessed 1 Oct 2004).

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