Alternative therapy (AT), also known as complementary, non-allopathic, unconventional, or holistic therapy, refers to healing practices that have become increasingly popular with the general public, but are not widely accepted by the medical profession. While studies have investigated AT use in healthy children and children with cancer, no comparison of the incidence of its use between these two populations has been published. We hypothesized that AT was used more commonly in pediatric cancer patients. Using a prevalence survey design, we interviewed 81 parents of cancer patients attending a Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic, and 80 parents of children attending a continuity care clinic for routine check-ups and acute care. We explored the types of AT being used, the reasons for its use, and the frequency with which it was discussed with the patient's physician. We found; 1) Overall, 67% of the cancer group were using AT, compared with 51% of the control group. This was not statistically significant; 2) When prayer was excluded, 45% of the cancer group and 42% of the control group were using AT; 3) Prayer and exercise were used more by the cancer group, and massage and folk remedies more by the control group; 4) Discussion of AT use with the physician varied according to income level, with 59% of parents in the higher-income group discussing its use, compared with 24% in the lower-income group. AT use is common in pediatrics and is not limited to children with life-challenging illnesses, but is also used by those with routine problems. Pediatricians need to be aware that their patients may be using AT in addition to remedies they have prescribed, but may not volunteer this information.