Complementary and alternative medical treatment of breast cancer: a survey of licensed North American naturopathic physicians.
BACKGROUND
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is on the rise in the United States, especially for breast cancer patients. Many CAM therapies are delivered by licensed naturopathic physicians using individualized treatment plans.


OBJECTIVE
To describe naturopathic treatment for women with breast cancer.


METHODS
Cross-sectional mail survey in 2 parts: screening form and 13-page survey.


METHODS
Bastyr University Cancer Research Center, Kenmore, Wash.


METHODS
All licensed naturopathic physicians in the United States and Canada (N=1,356) received screening forms; 642 (47%) completed the form. Of the respondents, 333 (52%) were eligible, and 161 completed the survey (48%).


METHODS
Demographics of naturopathic physicians, development of treatment plans, CAM therapies used, perceived efficacy of therapeutic interventions.


RESULTS
Of those respondents screened, 497 (77%) had provided naturopathic care to women with breast cancer, and 402 (63%) had treated women with breast cancer in the previous 12 months. Naturopaths who were women were more likely than men to treat breast cancer (P < or = .004). Of the survey respondents, 104 (65%) practiced in the United States, and 57 (35%) practiced in Canada; 107 (66.5%) were women, and 54 (33.5%) were men. To develop naturopathic treatment plans, naturopathic physicians most often considered the stage of cancer, the patient's emotional constitution, and the conventional therapies used. To monitor patients clinically, 64% of the naturopathic physicians used diagnostic imaging, 57% considered the patient's quality of life, and 51% used physical examinations. The most common general CAM therapies used were dietary counseling (94%), botanical medicines (88%), antioxidants (84%), and supplemental nutrition (84%). The most common specific treatments were vitamin C (39%), coenzyme Q-10 (34%), and Hoxsey formula (29%).
Standish
Leanna J
LJ
Bastyr University Research Institute, Kenmore, Wash, USA.
Greene
Kari
K
Greenlee
Heather
H
Kim
Jung G
JG
Grosshans
Cheryl
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D002170:Canada; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009324:Naturopathy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D010819:Physician's Role; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States