Weathering the seasons of cancer survivorship: mind-body therapy use and reported reasons and outcomes by stages of cancer survivorship

Abstract

Purpose Mind-body therapies (MBT), a subset of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), are used by cancer survivors to manage symptoms related to their cancer experience. MBT use may differ by cancer survivorship stage (i.e., acute, short-term, long-term) because each stage presents varying intensities of medical activities, associated emotions, and treatment effects. We examined the relationship between MBT use and survivorship stage (acute: <1 year; short-term: 1 to 5 years; long-term: >5 years since diagnosis) using the CAM supplement of the 2012 National Health Interview Survey. We also examined reported reasons for and outcomes of MBT use and frequency of MBT types. Methods The sample included cancer survivors (N= 3076) and non-cancer controls (N= 31,387). Logistic regression tested the relationship of MBT use and survivorship stage. Weighted percentages were calculated by survivorship stage for reported reasons and outcomes of use, and frequency of MBT types. Results MBT use varied by cancer survivorship stage (p = 0.02): acute (8.3%), short-term (15.4%), long-term (11.7%) survivorship, and non-cancer controls (13.2%). In the adjusted model, short-term survivors had 35% greater odds of MBT use than controls (95% CI: 1.00, 1.83). Reasons for and outcomes of MBT use varied among the survivorship stages, with more acute survivors reporting medical-related reasons and more short-term survivors reporting to manage symptoms. Conclusions MBT may fulfill different symptom management needs at varying stages of survivorship. These findings can help inform supportive care services of survivors’ use of MBT for symptom burden at each stage and the allocation of these services.

Cancer, sleep problems, and mind‐body medicine use: Results of the 2017 National Health Interview Survey

“…Overall, the use of MBM in patients with cancer appears to be increasing. When examining the data from the Adult Alternative Health/Complementary and Alternative Medicine supplement to the 2012 NHIS, approximately 8.3% to 15.4% of patients with cancer reported using mind‐body therapies . In the current NHIS data, approximately 27.6% of patients with cancer who experienced sleep problems and 17.9% of patients with cancer without sleep problems used MBM.…”

“…Analyses by Campo et al have suggested that disease prevention is another reason for the practice of MBM. The authors examined data from the Adult Alternative Health/Complementary and Alternative Medicine supplement to the 2012 NHIS regarding reported reasons for and outcomes of MBM use .…”

“…Analyses by Campo et al have suggested that disease prevention is another reason for the practice of MBM. The authors examined data from the Adult Alternative Health/Complementary and Alternative Medicine supplement to the 2012 NHIS regarding reported reasons for and outcomes of MBM use . More short‐term survivors (those who were 2 to 5 years after a cancer diagnosis) practiced mind‐body therapies compared with long‐term survivors or patients with cancer who were undergoing treatment.…”

“…The current analyses found no significant difference with regard to MBM use between the stage of survivorship in patients with cancer with sleep problems. In the study by Campo et al, one of the main reasons for MBM use was general wellness or disease prevention and between 52% and 82% of the patients with cancer who reported using mind‐body therapies reported improved sleep as a result of their practice . Therefore, patients with cancer with impaired sleep might have a higher motivation to practice MBM during all stages of survivorship.…”

“…The authors examined data from the Adult Alternative Health/Complementary and Alternative Medicine supplement to the 2012 NHIS regarding reported reasons Cancer December 15, 2019 for and outcomes of MBM use. 28 More short-term survivors (those who were 2 to 5 years after a cancer diagnosis) practiced mind-body therapies compared with long-term survivors or patients with cancer who were undergoing treatment. The current analyses found no significant difference with regard to MBM use between the stage of survivorship in patients with cancer with sleep problems.…”