Positive Health Online

Abstract

Gotay and Dumitriu, Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, Honolulu 96813, USA. cgotay@crch.hawaii.edu examined health food store recommendations for breast cancer patients.

Background

Despite cancer patients' widespread and growing use of complementary and alternative medicine, minimal attention has been paid to the role of health food stores in the 'supply side' of this phenomenon.

Methodology

One of the research team posed as the daughter of a breast cancer patient. All health food stores (N = 40) offering products for cancer patients were targeted. Recommended products and services, proposed mechanism of action, and costs were recorded.

Results

Store personnel readily provided information and product recommendations, with shark cartilage being the most frequent. Suggested mechanisms of action drew on traditional healing, scientific, and pseudoscientific rationales. Costs for recommended dosages varied across stores and brands.

Conclusion

Retailers supplying supplements can play an important role in the network of 'authorities' for patients with breast and other cancers, as they readily provide advice and recommend products. The reasons why patients seek health food store remedies are useful in developing approaches to patient education. Physicians and other providers are in a key position to assist cancer patients in making informed choices when considering health store products.

References

Gotay CC and Dumitriu D. Health food store recommendations for breast cancer patients. Archives in Family Medicine 9(8): 692-9. Aug 2000.

Comment

Excuse me, but I fail to see how most physicians can assist cancer patients regarding health store products when they have essentially no knowledge of nutritional or herbal medicine.