Complementary and alternative medicine use in radiotherapy: what are patients using?

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Integrative Medicine
• Radiotherapy Research

Background:

• Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is prevalent among cancer patients.
• Potential interactions between CAM and conventional cancer therapies pose risks.
• Understanding CAM prevalence and implications in radiotherapy patients is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence and types of CAM used by cancer patients receiving radiotherapy.
• To investigate the clinical implications and patient motivations for CAM use.
• To assess the awareness of CAM use among oncologists.

Main Methods:

• A validated questionnaire assessed CAM usage patterns, clinician awareness, reasons for use, perceived effectiveness, safety, and cost.
• Data were collected from consenting outpatients undergoing radiotherapy.
• Statistical analyses compared CAM users and non-users.

Main Results:

• 38% of patients used CAM, most commonly vitamins, antioxidants, and spiritual practices.
• Patients used CAM to improve quality of life (69%) or for hope of cure (26%).
• CAM users were more likely to receive chemotherapy and less likely to expect cure, but more likely to expect life prolongation; only 40% discussed CAM with oncologists.

Conclusions:

• CAM is commonly used by cancer patients, with certain agents like antioxidants potentially interfering with radiotherapy's efficacy.
• Oncologists must be aware of CAM use to mitigate potential adverse consequences.
• Further research is needed to understand the complex interactions between CAM and conventional cancer treatments.