Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicines in Breast Cancer Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Helyer Lucy K, Chin Stephen, Chui Betty K, Fitzgerald Barbara, Verma Sunil, Rakovitch Eileen, Dranitsaris George, Clemons Mark
Primary Institution: Toronto-Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence and motivation for using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among patients with locally advanced breast cancer?
Conclusion
Patients with locally advanced breast cancer who use CAM report similar motivations and benefits as those with early-stage breast cancer, but the actual benefits to survival remain unproven.
Supporting Evidence
- 47% of patients with locally advanced breast cancer were identified as CAM users.
- CAM users were more likely to be younger, married, and of higher socioeconomic status.
- 88% of CAM users used it alongside conventional treatment.
Takeaway
Many women with advanced breast cancer use alternative treatments to feel better and have more control over their health, but we still need to learn if these treatments really help.
Methodology
Patients completed a self-administered survey regarding CAM usage and beliefs at a specialist clinic.
Potential Biases
Selection bias may be present as the study only included patients attending a specialized cancer clinic.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and was conducted at a single institution, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
All participants were female, with a mean age of 54 years, and included diverse ethnic backgrounds.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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