Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Patients Before and After a Cancer Diagnosis

Abstract

Use of cam, particularly biologic products, increased significantly after a cancer diagnosis. Further studies are required to examine the effect of cam use on the efficacy and safety of cancer therapies.

Integrated Chinese Herbal Medicine and Western Medicine on the Survival in Patients with Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Study of Medical Records

“…First, the research only chooses to confirm the diagnosis of Western medicine at a single regional hospital, as well as the patients who also receive the CHM treatment in outpatient and consultation. Alternative therapies are common in the United States (45.0-51.8%) [19,32] and Norwegian (33.8%) [33]. ere were 27.48% CHM users in this study; in contrast, only 12-20% of colon cancer patients in the NHIRD database receive CHM treatment [34].…”

Biologically-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Use in Cancer Patients: The Good, the Bad, the Misunderstood

“…The desire to try everything, and take a chance on what might work is overwhelmingly tempting even for patients with a significant medical background. One study found that the most prevalent reason for CAM use was "just trying to do everything that can help" (11,12). Internet and social media provides an opportunity for patients to gain information and form opinions which guide their treatment decisions (13).…”

“…Disclosure is higher for women than for men and more likely in patients with a life-threatening illness (18). Furthermore, patients seek CAM information more from family, friends, and the internet than from health care providers (11,20).…”

“…Biologically-based CAM (BB-CAM) approaches are used by cancer patients for a number of reasons, including cancer prevention; cancer treatment; strengthening of the immune system; improving well-being; and alleviating symptoms of either the disease or disease treatment, such as nausea, insomnia, and pain (7,11). While numerous studies exist looking at the effects of supplements and herbals currently used as CAM on cell culture and or animal models, much less literature is available showing the long terms effects on patients using these much less on patients using them in combination with other therapies.…”

“…Anticoagulation is a possible adverse effect of some dietary supplements and could be an issue in patients suffering from blood dyscrasias or undergoing surgery (31,72). Fish oil, ginger, garlic, green tea, curcumin/turmeric, and reishi are supplements used by cancer patients that could have anticoagulative effects (11,72,73).…”