Complementary/alternative therapies in patients with breast cancer

Abstract

OBJECTIVES Breast cancer is the most common cancer type in women. Surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy are the treatment options that are used one or more for the treatment of breast cancer, however it is known that some of the cancer patients use complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) other than their treatments. In this study we aimed to investigate the frequency of CAM use and the type of CAM used in patients with breast cancer. METHODS A total of 129 patients with breast cancer were included in the study. Demographic characteristics, disease stage, and pathologic risk factors of patients were recorded. A questionnaire was administered to all patients and questioned the CAM types and frequency of CAM use. RESULTS In this study 48.8% (63 patients) of all patients were found to be using at least one kind of CAM method. Herbal therapy (98.4%) was the most frequently preferred CAM method and stinging nettle (83%) was the most common plant. CONCLUSION CAM methods, especially herbal therapy were used by a significant portion of our patients. The quite frequently use of CAM during and after medical treatment may affect the results of medical treatment and interact with chemotherapeutic agents. Therefore, it is necessary to questioning of CAM use to all patients with breast cancer. © 2013 Association of Oncology.