Relief of Symptoms, Side Effects, and Psychological Distress Through Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Women With Breast Cancer

Lengacher, Cecile A.; Bennett, Mary; Kip, Kevin E.; Gonzalez, Lois; Jacobsen, Paul B.; Cox, Charles E.

doi:10.1188/06.onf.97-104

Cited by 77 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…These individuals often report having a life-long commitment to CAM use that precedes their diagnosis, and they believe that CAM therapies are natural, supportive of the body's innate ability to heal, and better able to holistically address physiologic and psychosocial needs than conventional care can 14,35,43 . However, some of these patients have described feeling "pushed" towards CAM as result of their beliefs about conventional cancer treatments being "toxic," "poisonous," or immunosuppressive 21,37 .…”

Section: 23mentioning

confidence: 99%

Patient Decision-Making about Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Cancer Management: Context and Process

2008

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ObjectiveIn this paper, we set out to describe the personal and social contexts of treatment decisions made by cancer patients concerning complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and also the process through which cancer patients reach CAM decisions throughout the cancer trajectory. MethodsWe selected and reviewed a variety of CAM decisionmaking models published in the past 10 years within the Canadian health literature. ResultsThe CAM decision-making process is influenced by a variety of sociodemographic, disease-related, psychological, and social factors. We reviewed four main phases of the CAM decision-making process:• Taking stock of treatment options • Gathering and evaluating CAM information • Making CAM decisions • Revisiting the CAM decision Immediately following diagnosis, cancer patients become interested in taking stock of the full spectrum of conventional and CAM treatment options that may enhance the effectiveness of their treatment and mediate potential side effects. Information about CAM is then gathered from numerous information sources that vary in terms of credibility and scientific legitimacy, and is evaluated. When making a decision regarding CAM options, patients attempt to make sense of the diverse information obtained, while acknowledging their beliefs and values. The CAM decision is often revisited at key milestones, such as the end of conventional treatment and when additional information about disease, prognosis, and treatment is obtained. ConclusionsThe CAM decision-making process is a dynamic and iterative process that is influenced by a complex array of personal and social factors. Oncology health professionals need to be prepared to offer decision support related to CAM throughout the cancer trajectory.

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Section: 23mentioning

confidence: 99%

Patient Decision-Making about Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Cancer Management: Context and Process

2008

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“…An increasing number of people with cancer are coming to see the use of complementary therapies as an adjunct to hospital cancer treatment rather than as an alternative approach [1][2][3][4][5]. In this supportive role, complementary therapies are widely used after a cancer diagnosis and in the UK they are included in National Health Service (NHS) guidelines 'Improving Supportive and Palliative Care for Adults with Cancer' [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Individualised and complex experiences of integrative cancer support care: combining qualitative and quantitative data

Seers

Gale

Paterson

et al. 2009

Support Care Cancer

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ObjectivesThe widespread use of complementary therapies alongside biomedical treatment by people with cancer is not supported by evidence from clinical trials. We aimed to use combined qualitative and quantitative data to describe and measure individualized experiences and outcomes. Methods In three integrative Cancer Support Centres (two breast cancer only) in the UK, consecutive patients completed the individualised outcome questionnaire Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing (MYCaW) before and after treatment. MYCaW collects quantitative data (7-point scales) and written qualitative data and the qualitative data were analysed using published categories. Results 782 participants, 92% female, mean age 51yrs, nominated a wide range of concerns. Psychological and emotional concerns predominated. At follow-up, the mean change (improvement) in scores (n=588) were: concern 1, 2.06 (95% CI 1.92-2.20); concern 2, 1.74 (95% CI 1.60-1.90); and wellbeing, 0.64 (95% CI 0.52-0.75. The most common responses to 'what has been the most important aspect for you?' were 'receiving complementary therapies on an individual or group basis' (26.2%); 'support and understanding received from therapists' (17.1%) and 'time spent with other patients at the centres' (16.1%). Positive (61.5%) and negative (38.5%) descriptions of 'other things affecting your health' correlated with larger and smaller improvement in concerns and wellbeing respectively Conclusions In a multi-centre evaluation the MYCaW questionnaire provides rich data about patient experience, changes over time and perceptions of what was important to each individual with cancer within that experience. It is unlikely that meaningful evaluations of this complex intervention could be carried out by quantitative methods alone.

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“…32,33 In terms of satisfaction, most users were satisfied with perceived benefits of CAM, 29,32 but lack of improvement in expected goal was the most common reason for dissatisfaction. 31 …”

Section: Prevalence and Types Of Cam Usedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Across Cancer Treatment and Relationship to Stress, Mood, and Quality of Life

Kang

McArdle

Suh

2014

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

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Objectives: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is prevalent, but specific use of CAM across cancer treatment is underinvestigated. The objectives of this study were to assess changes in CAM use across cancer treatment; specific reasons for and satisfaction with specific types of CAM used; and associations of CAM use with stress, mood, and quality of life (QOL) in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Design and setting: Seventy-seven women with early-stage breast cancer who underwent active cancer treatment participated in the study. Data were collected three times: shortly after cancer diagnosis and 2 months and 6 months after the start of adjuvant cancer therapy. Outcome measures: CAM Questionnaire, Impact of Event Scale (stress), Profile of Mood State (mood), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer (QOL). Results: Mean age was 52.4 years, and 94%-97% of women used on average five to six CAMs across three time points. Women largely started CAM use before cancer diagnosis and continued across cancer treatment. The five most common CAMs were prayer (88.3%), multivitamin use, massage, and vitamins E and C, followed by music, meditation, green tea, chiropractic care, and vitamin A, with little changes in types of CAM use across cancer treatment. Satisfaction was high, and satisfaction with prayer was the highest. Prayer, meditation, and music were used specifically for a feeling of control, whereas vitamins were used to improve the immune system, showing clear patterns. Stress, mood disturbance, and QOL declined significantly over time, p < 0.001-0.04, but the number of CAMs used was unrelated to these variables. Conclusions: CAM use was highly prevalent with multiple CAMs and continued throughout cancer treatment. Prayer was the most common CAM; it had the highest satisfaction rating and the perception of being most helpful. The effect of long-term CAM use requires further investigation on psychological and biobehavioral outcomes with consideration of demographic and clinical characteristics.

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Relief of Symptoms, Side Effects, and Psychological Distress Through Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Women With Breast Cancer

Cited by 77 publications

References 58 publications

Patient Decision-Making about Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Cancer Management: Context and Process

Patient Decision-Making about Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Cancer Management: Context and Process

Individualised and complex experiences of integrative cancer support care: combining qualitative and quantitative data

Changes in Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Across Cancer Treatment and Relationship to Stress, Mood, and Quality of Life

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