Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 7, 2025

Competing-Risk Nomogram for Predicting Cancer-Specific Survival in Multiple Primary Colorectal Cancer Patients after Surgery
Published on: September 27, 2024
Factors influencing the usage of complementary and alternative medicine by patients with cancer
G Ciarlo1, E Ahmadi1, S Welter1
1Medizinische Klinik II, Hämatologie und Internistische Onkologie, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany.
Introduction:
The interest in CAM among cancer patients is constantly growing and about 50% already used CAM alongside cancer therapy. Little is known on the factors influencing patients' choice of type of CAM used.
Methods:
A questionnaire consisting of two validated instruments (the ASKU (Allgemeine Selbstwirksamkeit Kurzskala), the PAM 13-D (Patient Activation Measure) and the structured AKKOM questionnaire on CAM usage was distributed at a German university hospital.
Results:
639 patients (male 32.9%, female 63.2%; gynecological cancer 41%, gastrointestinal 19.2%, urogenital 15.6%) took part. 60% had used CAM in the last 3 months (biological 73%, holistic 63%, mind-body-methods 62%). Participants up to 30 years preferred biologically (p = 0.001), while women with gynecological cancer favored holistic based methods (p < 0.0001). There was no association between patients' beliefs on cancer causes and the chosen CAM method.
Conclusion:
Improving knowledge in patients on cancer etiology and treatments could facilitate the understanding of additional complementary treatments.
Related Concept Videos
Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
Cancer Survival Analysis
Nursing Ethical Principles II
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's...
Tumor Immunotherapy
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Affecting Factors
