Abstract
Background: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is common amongst cancer patients. The aim of the study was to investigate the use of CAM, beliefs about CAM and the purpose of using it amongst Polish cancer patients. Methods: The study included 864 cancer patients (median 63 years old), who were individually interviewed. The questionnaire was designed specifically for this study. Results: Amongst 732 patients who declared that they heard about CAM, 342 patients (46.7%) had used CAM; 91% of these patients had used it as a complementary therapy and 9% had used it as an alternative therapy. Patients younger in age, highly educated, professionally active, with longer medical history, and at more advanced cancer stages have, statistically, used CAM more often; 66% of participants could not state what the health effect of CAM is. Patients received information about CAM from the internet, friends, family and other patients. Only 18% of patients discussed using CAM with a doctor. Conclusions: CAM was popular amongst Polish cancer patients, especially in younger, educated and professionally active patients with longer cancer history at advanced stage. Patients used CAM as a complementary therapy for strengthening immune system, improving morphological and biochemical test parameters, reducing the side effects of conventional therapy and improving their well-being.
Highlights
Some patients use health care approaches that are not typically a part of conventional medical care—complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)
The overall prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine use by cancer patients is diverse between countries; 36% of cancer patients in European countries use CAM [15], and the percentage of cancer patients treated with CAM is 46% in Japan [16], 60% in Canada [17], 70–83% in the US [18,19], 85% in Tunisia [20] and 98% in Shanghai [21]
Who had heard about CAM decided to use it; most of them (91%) used CAM as a complementary therapy, rather than as the primary treatment for cancer
Summary
Some patients use health care approaches that are not typically a part of conventional medical care—complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). CAM therapies include herbs, vitamins, minerals, probiotics, nutritional supplements and special diets. Practices such as deep breathing exercises, yoga, tai chi, massage, chiropractic manipulations, magneto-therapy and acupuncture. The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is common amongst cancer patients. Highly educated, professionally active, with longer medical history, and at more advanced cancer stages have, statistically, used CAM more often; 66% of participants could not state what the health effect of CAM is. Conclusions: CAM was popular amongst Polish cancer patients, especially in younger, educated and professionally active patients with longer cancer history at advanced stage. Patients used CAM as a complementary therapy for strengthening immune system, improving morphological and biochemical test parameters, reducing the side effects of conventional therapy and improving their well-being
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