Self-Medication with Herbal Medicine Among Young Adult Cancer Patients: A Prospective Monocentric Study

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of the self-use of plants in cancer patients and its impact on overall survival (OS). Methods: This was a prospective study including young adult patients collected between January 15, 2018 and January 15, 2019 in the department of medical oncology at the Habib Bourguiba University Hospital. All patients were questioned about the concept of taking herbs. We compared OS among those who received plants versus the nonusers. Results: A total of 223 patients were included. The average age was 35 ± 4 years. Ninety-seven patients had taken plants. Sixty patients had consumed alenda (61.8%), and 36 patients had received graviola (37.1%). Ten patients have had diarrhea (10.3%), 10 cytolysis (10.3%), 11 cholestasis (11.3%), 15 thrombocytosis (15.4%), 17 leukocytosis (17.5%), and 13 anemia (13.4%). OS at 5 years was 67.1%. It was lower in patients consuming the plants (54% vs. 83%, p = 0.023). Conclusion: Factors associated with a decrease in the 5-year OS were metastatic stage and plant consumption.