Crowdfunding for Complementary and Alternative Cancer Treatments in Tijuana, Mexico: Content Analysis

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Medical Economics

Background:

• Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) cancer treatments are frequently not covered by insurance, leading patients to seek financial assistance.
• Crowdfunding has emerged as a significant avenue for patients to fund expensive CAM cancer therapies.
• Tijuana, Mexico, is a notable destination for patients pursuing CAM cancer treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the motivations behind patients seeking CAM cancer treatment in Tijuana, Mexico.
• To analyze crowdfunding campaigns supporting CAM cancer treatment to understand patient rationales.
• To identify key factors influencing the choice of CAM therapies and international treatment centers.

Main Methods:

• Scraped crowdfunding platforms (GoFundMe, GiveSendGo) for campaigns related to CAM cancer clinics in Tijuana between January 2022 and February 2023.
• Developed a coding framework to identify patient rationales for seeking CAM treatment abroad.
• Coded campaign metadata including cancer stage, type, treatment sought, and beneficiary demographics.

Main Results:

• Primary rationales for seeking CAM treatment in Tijuana included perceived efficacy (29.9%), lack of curative domestic options (23.2%), holistic/spiritual care (20.1%), and non-toxic/natural treatments (18.2%).
• Crowdfunding campaigns raised over $5.2 million USD.
• Beneficiaries were predominantly women (69.7%) and White individuals (71.1%).

Conclusions:

• Crowdfunding campaigns for CAM cancer treatments in Tijuana often promote misinformation regarding treatment efficacy.
• These campaigns direct funds and endorsements to CAM clinics in Mexico, with potential negative consequences for patients.
• Despite financial shortfalls and risks, Tijuana remains a popular destination for international CAM cancer treatment.