Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have reported that cancer patients do not tell their doctors about the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use during treatment. This study was presented on October 16, 2005, at the 47th meeting of the American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

Complementary and alternative medicine, commonly known as CAM, are medical therapies practiced outside conventional Western medicine. Complementary medicine consists of medical therapies that are most often used to supplement conventional medical treatments. In contrast, alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. This distinction is important, but only a small number of cancer patients completely bypass conventional medicine.  

A growing number of cancer patients use CAM therapies to promote wellness, ameliorate side effects of cancer or conventional cancer treatment, and/or treat cancer. While patients are using more CAM, they are not necessarily informing their health care professionals that they are doing so. Previous studies have suggested that the majority of cancer patients fail to tell their health professionals they were using CAM.  Many patients do not tell their nurses or physicians they are using CAM because they feel their physicians will not approve, and because they do not feel doctors and nurses have sufficient knowledge about CAM modalities.

The current study involved 487 cancer patients treated in two oncology clinics from July to September 2004 who responded to a questionnaire over the Internet. A total of 142 received radiation therapy alone and 131 received chemotherapy alone; 114 received both chemotherapy and radiation therapy. In this population 48% reported at least one CAM therapy during treatment with the most common reason being “general overall health.” Sixty-five per cent of patients receiving chemotherapy alone reported CAM use compared to 35% receiving radiation alone.  Almost 90% of the patients reported satisfaction with using CAM as a cost efficient approach. The most common therapies were vitamins, herbs and botanical supplements.   Only 10% of CAM users receiving radiataion therapy alone and 16% receiving chemotherapy only received information about CAM from their physicians.  

Comments: This report confirms the data of others suggesting that the majority of patients taking CAM are reluctant to discuss this with their physicians. The high degree of satisfaction with CAM is surprising, and it is hoped that most of the products taken are non-toxic and non-inter-reactive with medical therapies. Patients and physicians wishing more information on this subject should visit the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Website: http://nccam.nih.gov/

Reference: Vapiwala N, IMick R,  De Nittis A, et al. nitiation of complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies by cancer patients during radiation therapy (RT). 47th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Radiation Therapeutic Oncology. Denver, Colo. October, 2005. Page S451;abstract number 2374.

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