Herbal Remedies and Breast Cancer Survivors
Author Information
Author(s): Ma Huiyan, Carpenter Catherine L, Sullivan-Halley Jane, Bernstein Leslie
Primary Institution: City of Hope
Hypothesis
Is herbal remedy use associated with survival or quality of life among long-term breast cancer survivors?
Conclusion
Herbal remedy use may be linked to poorer survival and lower physical quality of life among long-term breast cancer survivors.
Supporting Evidence
- 59% of participants were herbal remedy users at baseline.
- Herbal remedy use was associated with non-statistically significant increases in mortality risk.
- Users had a greater decline in physical health scores compared to non-users.
Takeaway
This study looked at women who survived breast cancer for over 10 years and found that those who used herbal remedies might not live as long and felt worse physically than those who didn't use them.
Methodology
The study involved telephone interviews with breast cancer survivors to collect data on herbal remedy use and quality of life, followed by mortality tracking.
Potential Biases
Self-reported data on herbal remedy use may introduce reporting errors.
Limitations
The study had limited statistical power due to a small number of deaths and lacked detailed information on the timing and reasons for herbal remedy use.
Participant Demographics
Participants were primarily Non-Hispanic/Hispanic white women who survived breast cancer for more than 10 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.02
Confidence Interval
0.62-2.64
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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