Complementary/alternative therapies in patients with breast cancer

OBJECTIVES

Breast cancer is the most common cancer type in women. Surgery,
radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy are the
treatment options that are used one or more for the treatment
of breast cancer, however it is known that some of the cancer
patients use complementary/alternative medicine (CAM)
other than their treatments. In this study we aimed to investigate
the frequency of CAM use and the type of CAM used in
patients with breast cancer.

METHODS

A total of 129 patients with breast cancer were included in
the study. Demographic characteristics, disease stage, and
pathologic risk factors of patients were recorded. A questionnaire
was administered to all patients and questioned the CAM
types and frequency of CAM use.

RESULTS

In this study 48.8% (63 patients) of all patients were found
to be using at least one kind of CAM method. Herbal therapy
(98.4%) was the most frequently preferred CAM method and
stinging nettle (83%) was the most common plant.

CONCLUSION

CAM methods, especially herbal therapy were used by a significant
portion of our patients. The quite frequently use of
CAM during and after medical treatment may affect the results
of medical treatment and interact with chemotherapeutic
agents. Therefore, it is necessary to questioning of CAM use
to all patients with breast cancer.

Keywords: Breast cancer; complementary/alternative medicine