title: Use of complementary/alternative therapies by women with advanced-stage breast cancer.
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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Sciences, National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA. jshen@nih.gov
authors.forename: Joannie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wenger
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Glaspy
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shekelle
mesh_terms: 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