Purpose. To report on a telephone consultation service with
cancer patients and their relatives about complementary and alternative medicine
(CAM) between 1999 and 2011. Methods. We offered a
Germany-wide, free-of-charge telephone consultation service about CAM led by
oncology clinicians from a comprehensive cancer center. The consultations
followed a patient-centered approach with the aim to provide guidance and
evidence-based information. Sociodemographic, disease-related data as well as
information about the consultations’ content were collected in a standardized
manner, and feedback questionnaires were sent out immediately after the
consultations. Results. Overall, 5269 callers from all over
Germany used the service (57% patients, 43% relatives). The “big 4” cancer types
(breast, gastrointestinal, prostate, and lung) accounted for 55% of all calls.
In 67% of calls, patients had just received the diagnosis or commenced
anticancer therapy; 69% of patients had advanced or metastatic diseases. More
than half of the callers (55%) had vague concerns like “what else can I
do?” rather than specific questions related to CAM. The
consultations covered a broad spectrum of issues from CAM therapies to cancer
treatment and measures supportive of health, nutrition, and psychosocial
support. Callers highly valued the service. Conclusions.
Consulting about CAM addresses important unmet needs from cancer patients and
their relatives. It provides clinicians with the opportunity to engage in open
and supportive dialogues about evidence-based CAM to help with symptom
management, psychological support, and individual self-care. Consulting about
CAM cannot be separated from consulting about conventional care and should be
provided from the beginning of the cancer journey.