Research article

Use of complementary/alternative therapies by women with advanced-stage breast cancer

Joannie Shen¹ , Ronald Andersen² , Paul S Albert³ , Neil Wenger^4,5 , John Glaspy⁶ , Melissa Cole¹ and Paul Shekelle^5,7

¹Laboratory of Clinical Sciences, National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

²Department of Health Services, UCLA School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA

³Biometric Research Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

⁴Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine & Health Services Research, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA

⁵RAND, Santa Monica, CA, USA

⁶Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA

⁷Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA

author email corresponding author email

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2002, 2:8doi:10.1186/1472-6882-2-8

Published:	13 August 2002

Abstract

Background

This study sought to describe the pattern of complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) use among a group of patients with advanced breast cancer, to examine the main reasons for their CAM use, to identify patient's information sources and their communication pattern with their physicians.

Methods

Face-to-face structured interviews of patients with advanced-stage breast cancer at a comprehensive oncology center.

Results

Seventy three percent of patients used CAM; relaxation/meditative techniques and herbal medicine were the most common. The most commonly cited primary reason for CAM use was to boost the immune system, the second, to treat cancer; however these reasons varied depending on specific CAM therapy. Friends or family members and mass media were common primary information source's about CAM.

Conclusions

A high proportion of advanced-stage breast cancer patients used CAM. Discussion with doctors was high for ingested products. Mass media was a prominent source of patient information. Credible sources of CAM information for patients and physicians are needed.