Why some cancer patients choose complementary and alternative medicine instead of conventional treatment.

OBJECTIVES: We examined cancer patients' reasons for declining all or part of recommended cancer treatment and choosing complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). STUDY DESIGN: This was a qualitative interview study. POPULATION: Fourteen cancer survivors who reported having declined all or part of the recommended conventional treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation) were included. The participants were a subset from a multi-ethnic (Asian, Native Hawaiian, and white) group of 143 adults diagnosed with cancer in 1995 or 1996 who were recruited through a population-based tumor registry and interviewed about CAM. OUTCOMES MEASURED: We performed semistructured interviews regarding experience with conventional cancer treatment and providers, use of CAM, and beliefs about disease. RESULTS: All participants used 3 or more types of CAM, most commonly herbal or nutritional supplements. Across the board, participants stated that their reason for declining conventional treatment was to avoid damage or harm to the body. The majority of participants also felt that conventional treatment would not make a difference in disease outcome, and some but not all participants perceived an unsatisfactory or alienating relationship with health care providers. Some participants reported that their discovery of CAM contributed to their decision to decline conventional treatment, and participants generally perceived CAM as an effective and less harmful alternative to conventional treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer patients may benefit from interventions (eg, patient education, improvements in physician-patient communication, and psychologic therapy) to facilitate treatment decision making through increased understanding of conventional and CAM treatments and to identify barriers to treatment for individual patients.

Dietary changes among cancer survivors.

Given the limited scientific knowledge about dietary factors that affect cancer recurrence, dietary guidelines for cancer survivors are similar to general recommendations on healthy eating. This study explored the patterns of and motivation for, dietary changes among cancer patients. We conducted in-person interviews with 143 cancer survivors who were chosen from a mail survey on complementary and alternative medicine among cancer patients. We applied qualitative analysis using the software package NUD*IST to sort and code the transcribed interviews. The majority of dietary changes reported by 69 cancer patients agreed with current nutritional recommendations, such as decreasing meat and fat intake and increasing the consumption of vegetables and fruits. However, many diet changers also reported the intake of herbal and vitamin supplements, many with unproven effects. The major themes for changing diet were hopes that nutrition would increase well-being, maintain health and prevent cancer recurrence and beliefs that foods that cause or prevent cancer should be avoided and increased, respectively. Many cancer patients use non-scientific reasons when deciding on dietary changes and supplement use. Increasing communication with health care providers may prevent the use of extreme diets, unproven and possibly harmful supplements and reduce exaggerated hopes related to the benefits of a particular dietary regimen.

Perceived cancer causes: use of complementary and alternative therapy.

PURPOSE: The objectives of this report are to describe beliefs about general and personal cancer causes among patients with cancer who use and do not use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), to compare these beliefs with current epidemiologic knowledge, and to explore associations between these beliefs and choice of CAMs. DESCRIPTION OF INTERVIEWS: The authors conducted a semistructured interview with 143 patients with cancer, who were identified via the Hawaii Tumor Registry and had participated in a survey on CAM use. By design, the majority of interviewees (85%) were CAM users. A qualitative data analysis was performed. RESULTS: Genetics, environment, and diet were among the most common perceived general causes of cancer, whereas psychosocial factors were by far the most common perceived personal causes. CAM users were more likely than nonusers to name environment, immune system, and stress as cancer causes. Compared with the epidemiologic literature, study participants were less likely to mention tobacco use and more likely to consider environmental exposures, psychosocial factors, immunologic mechanisms, and physical injury as causes of cancer. Furthermore, the interviews suggest that causal thinking may be related to the type of CAM used. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Given the discrepancy between popular cancer theories and current scientific knowledge, the challenge for the healthcare provider is to listen and try to understand the patient's beliefs about cancer etiology. Understanding the patient's beliefs about their disease is important in providing the support and information they need to make effective decisions about their medical care.

Ethnic differences in complementary and alternative medicine use among cancer patients.

OBJECTIVES: This study estimated the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use and its relation to quality of life (QOL) among cancer patients from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Given the ethnically diverse population in Hawaii, we hypothesized that CAM use may be related to the ancestry and the cultural heritage of cancer patients. DESIGN AND SETTING: Participants for this mail survey were identified through the Hawaii Tumor Registry, a state-wide population-based cancer registry. SUBJECTS: Patients with invasive cancer diagnosed 1995-1996. Of the 2,452 questionnaires received, 1,168 (47.6%) were returned. OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of CAM use and QOL measures. RESULTS: One in four respondents reported at least one CAM therapy since cancer diagnosis. CAM use was highest among Filipino and Caucasian patients, intermediate for Native Hawaiians and Chinese, and significantly lower among Japanese. Some ethnic preferences for CAM followed ethnic folk medicine traditions, e.g., herbal medicines by Chinese, Hawaiian healing by Native Hawaiians, and religious healing or prayer by Filipinos. CAM users reported lower emotional functioning scores, higher symptom scores, and more financial difficulties than nonusers. CONCLUSIONS: This study detected ethnic differences in CAM use, in particular a low use among Japanese patients, and supports the importance of cultural factors in determining the frequency and type of CAM therapies chosen. Consideration of patients' cultural heritage may facilitate communication between physicians and patients about CAM with the goal to achieve optimal cancer care.