Quality of Life and Patterns of Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicines Among Glioma Patients

Many people with cancer consider using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). To describe the quality of life (QOL) and use of CAM therapies among adult patients with glioma, we assessed 718 patients from the Neuro-oncology Clinic at the University of California, San Francisco, between 2002 and 2006. They completed an interview on CAM use and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment-Brain (FACT-Br) QOL questionnaire. Tumor grade was significantly associated with functional, brain function-related, and overall QOL. Age, gender, education, income, and marital status also were associated with various aspects of QOL. Of the 718 participants, 33% used at least one form of CAM, and 42% reported using prayer. Women and those with higher educational levels and incomes were more likely to use CAM than other patients. Tumor grade was only associated with the use of mind-body types of CAM (odds ratio [OR] = 1.87; 95% CI: 1.00-3.49; P < 0.05 for high- versus low-grade tumors). Although overall QOL was not associated with CAM use, lower emotional QOL was associated with any CAM use, and higher functional QOL scores were associated with body-based CAM use (OR = 0.97; 95% CI: 0.93-1.00; P < 0.05 and OR = 1.04; 95% CI: 1.01-1.07; P = 0.03, respectively). Although interventional randomized trials would be needed to assess more accurately the influence of CAM on QOL among patients with glioma, this study provides important baseline information on patient preferences and QOL.