Our Mission
PeopleBeatingCancer supports an evidence-based integrative approach to cancer care. For most newly diagnosed patients, FDA-approved therapies form the foundation of treatment, while evidence-based complementary therapies may help reduce side effects and improve survivorship.
Click the orange button to the right to learn more.
Evidence-Based Integrative Cancer Information by Cancer Type
Evidence-Based Integrative Cancer Information by Cancer Type. Find your cancer below and start with the “Need to Know” guide. Every guide explains conventional treatment, evidence-based complementary therapies, lifestyle strategies, common side effects, nutrition, exercise, supplements, and long-term survivorship.
Every recommendation on PeopleBeatingCancer is categorized according to the strength of published evidence, emphasizing systematic reviews, randomized clinical trials, prospective human studies, and mechanistic research. We encourage patients to discuss complementary therapies with their oncology team before making treatment decisions.
| Cancer Type | Need-to-Know Guide | Integrative Therapies | Nutrition & Lifestyle | Managing Side Effects | Survivorship & Recurrence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breast Cancer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Brain Cancer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bladder Cancer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cervical Cancer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Colorectal Cancer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Endometrial (Uterine) Cancer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Esophageal Cancer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head & Neck Cancer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kidney Cancer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Leukemia | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Liver Cancer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lung Cancer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lymphoma | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Melanoma / Skin Cancer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multiple Myeloma | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ovarian Cancer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pancreatic Cancer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Prostate Cancer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stomach (Gastric) Cancer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Testicular Cancer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
What you’ll find in every PeopleBeatingCancer cancer guide: Evidence-based information about conventional treatments, complementary and integrative therapies, nutrition, exercise, supplementation, treatment side effects, questions to ask, and long-term survivorship strategies. As new research becomes available, our guides are updated to reflect the latest evidence.
The types of cancers researched by PeopleBeatingCancer.org are linked below. I’ve chosen to focus on the most common 20 cancers because they constitute the vast majority of cancer diagnoses in the world annually.
What You’ll Find for Every Cancer
Every Cancer Hub Includes
✔ Understanding your diagnosis
✔ Standard conventional treatments
✔ Questions to ask your oncologist
✔ Evidence-based complementary therapies
✔ Integrative oncology research
✔ Nutrition
✔ Exercise
✔ Managing treatment side effects
✔ Repurposed drug research
✔ Supplements supported by evidence
✔ Long-term survivorship
✔ Risk of recurrence
✔ Emotional health
All PeopleBeatingCancer articles are researched using peer-reviewed studies, PubMed-indexed research, clinical trials, survivor experiences, and evidence-based integrative oncology principles.
A diagnosis of cancer is no longer a death sentence. However, just hearing the words “you have cancer” can strike fear into the patient. It sure scared me when Dr. Makely told me that I had cancer.
To be fair, the reality of a diagnosis of cancer, any cancer, is complicated. A diagnosis of DCIS (breast cancer stage 0) is a completely different disease, prognosis, and therapy plan compared to, say, a diagnosis of my cancer, multiple myeloma.
If you’re newly diagnosed or trying to understand treatment options, side effects, nutrition, or survivorship, learn more about PeopleBeatingCancer’s cancer coaching and patient education resources.
Your challenge is to learn about your diagnosis to figure out your type of cancer, stage of that cancer, and possible therapy plan (surgery? chemo? watchful waiting?), and the side effects that may result from any possible therapy plan.
After my own diagnosis of cancer, I stumbled around for years trying to understand it all. I made LOTS of mistakes along the way.
The first challenge I faced was understanding and communicating with my oncologist.
The second challenge was figuring out how and why conventional oncology prescribes FDA-approved therapies that cause short-term, long-term and late-stage side effects.
The fact is that conventional oncology focuses on FDA-approved therapies. Your oncologist’s job is to control your cancer with conventional therapies like surgery, chemo, radiation and immunotherapy. Full stop. When I tell oncologists about the non-conventional therapy that put me into complete remission, I get a disbelieving look and an abrupt end to the conversation.
It took me years to figure it all out, but I believe that newly diagnosed cancer patients can benefit from BOTH conventional and evidence-based integrative therapies.
Learn more about the PeopleBeatingCancer Editorial & Treatment Philosophy and how I evaluate conventional, complementary, integrative, and alternative cancer therapies.
What Is Integrative Cancer Therapy?
Integrative cancer therapy combines conventional oncology with evidence-based complementary therapies such as nutrition, exercise, supplementation, stress reduction, microbiome support, and selected repurposed drugs to improve outcomes and quality of life.
Each of the cancer types links to the PeopleBeatingCancer “Need to Know” post for that type of cancer. The “Need to Know” page for each cancer type is your starting point. Each “Need to Know” page links to dozens of pages on PeopleBeatingCancer that talk about
- Complementary Therapies
- Integrative Therapies
- Alternative Therapies
- Repurposed Drugs as Cancer Therapy
- Managing Therapy Side Effects
Remember that cancer is complicated, and you may have questions. If you read a study or blog post that sparks a question, you can scroll down the page and post a question or a comment. I will reply to you ASAP.
I look forward to working with you. Scroll down the page, click on your cancer type, and begin your cancer journey. I hope PeopleBeatingCancer.org helps you.
Feel free to ask me how the questions below can apply to your diagnosis.
Every cancer diagnosis is different, but every patient deserves clear, evidence-based information. Whether you’re newly diagnosed, undergoing treatment, recovering after therapy, or living with metastatic disease, PeopleBeatingCancer is designed to help you understand both conventional oncology and the growing body of research supporting integrative cancer care. Begin with your cancer type below, then explore the resources that matter most to your situation.
Hang in there,
David Emerson
Based on 2024–2025 data from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and American Cancer Society, the 20 most common cancer diagnoses in the U.S. are generally listed in this order of incidence:
Browse Evidence-Based Cancer Research by Cancer Type
Blood Cancers
Common topics:
- recovery after a stem cell transplant
- strengthen blood counts during chemotherapy naturally
- rebuilding immune health
Hormone-Driven Cancers
- Breast Cancer (Female/Male) Need-to-know
- Prostate Cancer Need-to-know
- Uterine Corpus Cancer (Endometrial) Need-to-know
Common topics:
- hormone therapy
- bone health
- exercise
- recurrence prevention’
GI Cancers
- Colon & Rectum Cancer Need-to-know
- Stomach Cancer Need-to-know
- Pancreatic Cancer Need-to-know
- Liver & Intrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer Need-to-know
Common themes:
Thoracic Cancers
Common themes:
Genitourinary
- Kidney & Renal Pelvis Cancer Need-to-know
- Bladder Cancer Need-to-know
- Testicular Cancer Need-to-know
Gynecologic
- Ovarian Cancer Need-to-know
- Uterine Cervix Cancer Need-to-know
- Uterine Corpus Cancer (Endometrial) Need-to-know
Skin
Brain
Endocrine
Newly Diagnosed?
Read these first:
- What Is Integrative Oncology?
- Complementary vs Alternative Therapy
- Get a different kind of second opinion?
- How to Evaluate Cancer Information Online
Beyond Your Cancer Diagnosis
Understanding your cancer is only the beginning. PeopleBeatingCancer also researches:
- Cancer Treatment Side Effects — short-term, long-term and late effects of treatment
- Complementary Cancer Therapies — therapies used alongside conventional oncology
- Integrative Cancer Therapies — combining conventional treatment with evidence-based lifestyle and complementary approaches
- Nutrition & Lifestyle Therapies — diet, exercise, sleep and survivorship
- Repurposed Drugs for Cancer — existing medications being studied for anticancer effects
- Alternative Cancer Therapies — approaches used outside standard oncology
- Cancer Coaching — education and support for patients, survivors and caregivers
Most Popular Topics Across All Cancers
- Integrative Oncology
- Complementary Cancer Therapies
- Alternative Cancer Treatments
- Repurposed Drugs
- Cancer Nutrition
- Exercise During Treatment
- Sleep
- Gut Microbiome
- Chemotherapy Side Effects
- Radiation Side Effects
- Financial Toxicity
- Cancer Coaching
Most Common Side Effects
- Neuropathy
- Fatigue
- Chemobrain
- Anemia
- Kidney damage
- Heart damage
- Osteoporosis
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Sexual dysfunction
- GI toxicity
- Radiation fibrosis
- Xerostomia