Does use of alternative medicine delay treatment of head and neck cancer? A surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) cancer registry study.
BACKGROUND
The role of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in cancer treatment is controversial. The aim of the study was to assess whether CAM use was associated with a delay in the initiation of conventional cancer treatment for head and neck cancer.


METHODS
CAM usage data were collected by mailed questionnaire for 149 incident head and neck cancer patients who were identified through the Metropolitan Detroit Cancer Surveillance System. Time from cancer diagnosis to the start of conventional cancer treatment was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method.


RESULTS
Overall 79% of the subjects reported use of at least 1 of the CAM items asked in the questionnaire. The time to conventional cancer treatment did not differ by prior CAM use intended to treat cancer (p =.209).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present registry-based study do not suggest that alternative therapy use in patients with head and neck cancer delays conventional cancer treatment.
Kato
Ikuko
I
Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 110 E Warren Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, USA. katoi@karmanos.org
Neale
Anne Victoria
AV
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D018426:SEER Program; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology