Use of complementary/alternative therapies by women with advanced-stage breast cancer
Background
This study sought to describe the pattern of complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) use among a group of patients with advanced breast cancer, to examine the main reasons for their CAM use, to identify patient's information sources and their communication pattern with their physicians.
Methods
Face-to-face structured interviews of patients with advanced-stage breast cancer at a comprehensive oncology center.
Results
Seventy three percent of patients used CAM; relaxation/meditative techniques and herbal medicine were the most common. The most commonly cited primary reason for CAM use was to boost the immune system, the second, to treat cancer; however these reasons varied depending on specific CAM therapy. Friends or family members and mass media were common primary information source's about CAM.
Conclusions
A high proportion of advanced-stage breast cancer patients used CAM. Discussion with doctors was high for ingested products. Mass media was a prominent source of patient information. Credible sources of CAM information for patients and physicians are needed.
Complete Metadata
| @type | dcat:Dataset |
|---|---|
| accessLevel | public |
| bureauCode |
[
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| contactPoint |
{
"fn": "NIH",
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|
| description | Background This study sought to describe the pattern of complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) use among a group of patients with advanced breast cancer, to examine the main reasons for their CAM use, to identify patient's information sources and their communication pattern with their physicians. Methods Face-to-face structured interviews of patients with advanced-stage breast cancer at a comprehensive oncology center. Results Seventy three percent of patients used CAM; relaxation/meditative techniques and herbal medicine were the most common. The most commonly cited primary reason for CAM use was to boost the immune system, the second, to treat cancer; however these reasons varied depending on specific CAM therapy. Friends or family members and mass media were common primary information source's about CAM. Conclusions A high proportion of advanced-stage breast cancer patients used CAM. Discussion with doctors was high for ingested products. Mass media was a prominent source of patient information. Credible sources of CAM information for patients and physicians are needed. |
| distribution |
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"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "Official Government Data Source",
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"downloadURL": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC122074/"
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|
| identifier | https://healthdata.gov/api/views/8znz-huui |
| issued | 2025-07-14 |
| keyword |
[
"advanced-stage-cancer",
"alternative-medicine",
"breast-cancer",
"cam-therapy",
"nih"
]
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| modified | 2025-09-06 |
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{
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}
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| theme |
[
"NIH"
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|
| title | Use of complementary/alternative therapies by women with advanced-stage breast cancer |
