Introduction The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among cancer survivors is high, yet less is known about reasons behind such use or the communication of CAM with conventional medical providers. Methods Cross-sectional, multivariate logistic regression models were developed to evaluate the similarities and differences between cancer survivors and non-cancer controls in the 2007 National Health Interview Survey with 23,393 participants, including 1,471 cancer survivors. Results Among cancer survivors, 66.5% reported ever using CAM and 43.3% having used CAM in the past year. When compared with the general population, cancer survivors used CAM more often for general disease prevention, immune enhancement, and for pain (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] 1.27, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.10-1.48; AOR 1.32, 95% CI 1.05-1.62; AOR 1.42, 95% CI 1.05-1.92, respectively). Cancer survivors were more likely to use CAM because of recommendations from their provider (AOR 1.54, 95% CI 1.26-1.88) and were more likely to disclose their CAM use to their provider (AOR 1.45, 95% CI 1.22-1.72). Discussions/Conclusions When compared to the general population, cancer survivors were more likely to use CAM and communicate this use with providers, indicating a growing integration of CAM in conventional medical care. Implications for Cancer Survivors Cancer survivors are more likely than the general population to communicate CAM use with providers, suggesting greater integration of CAM use in conventional care. However, the majority of CAM use is still not being communicated to providers, indicating an important area for improvement in patient-centered care.

Approximately half of these patients had not accessed SPCS since cancer diagnosis and cite lack of awareness and physician nonreferral as barriers. Further research is needed to understand patients' needs and beliefs regarding SPCS, and how to integrate SPCS into conventional treatments to improve cancer care.

Purpose Insomnia is increasingly recognized as a major symptom outcome in breast cancer; however, little is known about its prevalence and risk factors among women receiving aromatase inhibitors (AIs), a standard treatment to increase disease free survival among breast cancer patients. Methods A cross-sectional survey study was conducted among postmenopausal women with stage 0-III breast cancer receiving adjuvant AI therapy at an outpatient breast oncology clinic of a large university hospital. The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) was used as the primary outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate risk factors. Results Among 413 participants, 130 (31.5%) had sub-threshold insomnia on the ISI and 77 (18.64%) exceeded the threshold for clinically significant insomnia. In a multivariate logistic regression model, clinically significant insomnia was independently associated with severe joint pain (adjusted odds ratio, 4.84, 95% confidence interval, 1.71–13.69, P=0.003), mild/moderate hot flashes (AOR, 2.28, 95% CI, 1.13–4.60, P=0.02), severe hot flashes (AOR, 2.29, 95% CI, 1.23–6.81, P=0.015), anxiety (AOR, 1.99, 95% CI, 1.08–3.65, P=0.027), and depression (AOR, 3.57, 95% CI, 1.48–8.52, P=0.004). Age (>65 vs. <55 years, AOR, 2.31, 95% CI, 1.11–4.81, p=0.026), and time since breast cancer diagnosis (<2 years vs. 2–5 years, AOR, 1.94, 95% CI, 1.02–3.69, p=0.045) were also found to be significant risk factors. Clinical insomnia was more common among those who used medication for treating insomnia and pain. Conclusions Insomnia complaints exceed 50% among AI users. Clinically significant insomnia is highly associated with joint pain, hot flashes, anxiety and depression, age, and time since diagnosis.

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