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Research: SIMON and co-authors,
Listed in Issue 153
Abstract
SIMON and co-authors, Centre Paul-Strauss, BP 42, 67065 Strasbourg, France, have surveyed CAM treatments used by cancer patients.
Background
The aim of this study was to survey the use of CAM therapies by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Methodology
244 cancer patients from 2 public hospitals (one adult, one paediatric) and one private clinic receiving chemotherapy were asked about their use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
Results
Nearly 28% used one or several CAM, especially homeopathy (60%), special diets or dietary supplements (44%), mistletoe (40%) and less frequently acupuncture or other treatments. These CAM are started 4 to 5 months after the onset of chemotherapy. The reasons for using CAM are to enhance immune defences, better tolerance of treatment, but also for nearly 27% to treat cancer. All patients were treated by anticancer classical treatments and none thought to stop them. CAM are prescribed especially by homeopathic doctors. 30% of patients using CAM did not inform their oncologist of their CAM treatment. The same conclusions were drawn for the 10 paediatric patients. The majority of all patients did not take any CAM before their cancer. In a multivariate analysis, female and age between 30 and 50 are correlated to CAM use. All patients taking CAM are satisfied by the CAM treatment with good subjective results on their general status, fatigue and nausea and vomiting.
Conclusion
These results are similar to other studies done in Europe.
References
Simon L, Prebay D, Beretz A, Bagot JL, Lobstein A, Rubinstein I, Schraub S. Complementary and alternative medicines taken by cancer patients. Bulletin du Cancer 94 (5): 483-488, May 1, 2007.
