Use of complementary/alternative therapies by women with advanced-stage breast cancer.
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.
Shen
Joannie
J
Laboratory of Clinical Sciences, National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA. jshen@nih.gov
Andersen
Ronald
R
Albert
Paul S
PS
Wenger
Neil
N
Glaspy
John
J
Cole
Melissa
M
Shekelle
Paul
P
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D029001:Herbal Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States