title: Complementary medicine use among cancer patients receiving radiotherapy and chemotherapy: methods, sources of information and the need for counselling.
abstract: Complementary medicine (CM) use is common among cancer patients. However, little is known about CM products that are utilised during radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Out of 62 cancer patients who completed a specialised survey, 35 (56%) consumed some type of CM during active anti-cancer therapy. Cancer patients reported the use of herbal teas (52%), vitamins and other dietary supplements (45%), vegetables and juices (39%), special diets (19%), herbal medicines, including Chinese medicines (19%) and 'immunomodulators' (3%). Most of patients (86%) consumed CM products every day. However, nearly 47% of CM users did not admit this to their oncologists. Majority of CM users (85%) were convinced that supplementary products increase the efficacy of standard anti-cancer therapy and prolong their survival. Information about CM was mainly obtained through internet sources (36%), books and brochures (25%). Although most CM users (82%) trusted the received information, 73% of them admitted that additional information about CM methods would be necessary. Patients would like to receive additional information through a specialised consultation (60%), but also from brochures (44%) and the internet (20%). Adequate counselling of patients is of paramount importance since some CM methods may cause significant side effects and decrease the efficacy of radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia; Haematology and Oncology Clinic, Department of Radiotherapy and Oncological Therapy, Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pihlak
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liivand
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Trelin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Neissar
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kivistik
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lilo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jaal
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001628:Beverages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003142:Communication; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D041743:Herb-Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011878:Radiotherapy; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D014815:Vitamins
keywords: chemotherapy; complementary medicine; counselling; information sources; radiotherapy