Appropriate Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Approaches in Gynecologic Cancers

Abstract

Gynecologic cancer patients frequently desire alternative and/or complementary interventions or medicines to aid in relief of both cancer-related and treatment-related side effects. Furthermore, women also seek treatment to aid in superior outcomes and cure rates. Unfortunately, evidence suggests that the use of complementary and/or alternative medicine (CAM) is underreported or not discussed with physicians providing cancer care. In gynecologic cancer literature, there is a lack of scientific evidence either supporting or negating CAM. Because of the lack of information available, health care providers do not have good information regarding safety, efficacy, and dose of CAM. This leads to miscommunication or absence of communication between providers and patients. Because patients do use CAM to improve quality of life (QOL) during and after treatment, it would be educational for providers to know the specific QOL deficits among patients that require attention. Thus, with the ultimate goal of improving QOL for gynecologic cancer patients, providers should be pushed to investigate CAM and determine an honest support or rejection of these therapies.

An Integrated Study on the Antitumor Effect and Mechanism of Triphala Against Gynecological Cancers Based on Network Pharmacological Prediction and In Vitro Experimental Validation

“…Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, gynecological cancers are still one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers and leading causes of cancer-related death among women worldwide. It has been suggested that traditional medicines, as therapeutic supplements or substitutes for conventional medications, have been frequently used by women with gynecological malignancies in order to improve treatment outcomes and reduce side effects, 22 even if the safety and efficacy of these experience-based medicines are not always evidence based. 23 , 24 Because traditional herbal formulae always contain numerous chemical ingredients with diverse pharmacological activities, the pharmaceutical studies on traditional medicines based on conventional “one drug, one target” concept are extremely resource intensive, time-consuming, and therefore, inefficient.…”

Attitudes and beliefs regarding complementary and alternative medicine in a diverse gynecologic oncology patient population

“…CAM therapies and practices represent a significant and growing aspect of oncology care ( Chase et al, 2014 ). Our study suggests that CAM use in gynecologic oncology patients may be lower than previously suspected and that there is some association between demographic factors and attitudes and beliefs regarding CAM.…”

Prolonged stabilization of platinum-refractory ovarian cancer in a single patient undergoing long-term Mistletoe extract treatment

“…Mistletoe extract seems to contain oncologically relevant active substances that exert anticancer effects and appear to prolong overall survival and markedly increase QOL, without the recurrence of cancer or ascites. [7,11] Various clinical studies including matched-pair studies, placebo-controlled and even randomized studies suggests that cancer patients treated with the mistletoe extract had a increased survival rate. [12–15]…”