Predictors of the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by women at high risk for breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Few data exist regarding the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by unaffected women at high risk of breast cancer.


METHODS
Self-reported CAM use by women from multiple-case breast cancer families was obtained by questionnaire. Factors associated with CAM use were assessed using multiple logistic regression.


RESULTS
Of 892 women, 55% (n=489) used CAM, 6% (n=53) specifically to prevent cancer. CAM use was independently associated with tertiary education level (OR 2.56, 95% CI 1.83-3.58, p<0.001), greater physical activity (OR 1.05 per hour of physical activity/week, 95% CI 1.00-1.10, p=0.049), greater anxiety (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.16-3.16, p=0.01), not currently smoking (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.42-0.97, p=0.037) and lower perceived BC risk (OR 0.82 per 20 percentage points, 95% CI 0.72-0.94, p=0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of high-risk women use CAM, but mostly for reasons other than cancer prevention. Most predictors of CAM use are consistent with the limited literature for women at high risk for cancer.
Field
K M
KM
Division of Haematology and Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Locked Bag No.1, A'Beckett St, Melbourne, Victoria 8006, Australia.
Jenkins
M A
MA
Friedlander
M L
ML
McKinley
J M
JM
Price
M A
MA
Weideman
P
P
Keogh
L A
LA
McLachlan
S A
SA
Lindeman
G J
GJ
Hopper
J L
JL
Butow
P N
PN
Phillips
K A
KA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia; D024682:BRCA2 Protein / Q000235:genetics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009154:Mutation; D009386:Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009520:New Zealand; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C118024:BLID protein, human; D024682:BRCA2 Protein; C551750:BRCA2 protein, human; C111164:BRAP protein, human; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases