The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Supplements of Potential Concern during Breast Cancer Chemotherapy.

Objective. While many Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) are unlikely to interact negatively with conventional oncology treatment, some ingestible CAM substances have biological activities that may reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy or radiation. This study surveyed women with breast cancer in order to document the extent to which women with breast cancer use these CAM substances of concern concurrently with conventional treatments. Methods. A total of 398 women completed a survey describing their use of CAM at various time points in their cancer treatment. This report focuses on a subsample of 250 women receiving chemotherapy or radiation who reported using specific one or more of several chemotherapies. Results. Of those participating, 104 (43.7%) of those receiving chemotherapy (n = 238) and 45 (32.3%) of those receiving radiation (139; 58.4% of all patients) reported using one or more CAM substances that could be cause for concern when taken concurrently. Conclusion. Research is needed to understand the real risks associated with CAM and conventional polypharmacy. If risks associated with CAM conventional polypharmacy use prove to be substantial then improved systems to assure all women get advice regarding herb and supplement use during breast cancer treatment appear to be needed.

Complementary and alternative medicine use by breast cancer patients at time of surgery which increases the potential for excessive bleeding.

OBJECTIVE: The use of complementary or alternative medicine has increased greatly over the last decade. This study describes a cross-sectional survey of women with breast cancer to describe their use of herbs and supplements that might have placed them at elevated risk for bleeding at the time of their primary treatment surgery for breast cancer. METHODS: We present cross-sectional survey results from a cohort of 316 women with breast cancer. The participants included a convenience sample of 98 women who received integrative oncology treatment from local providers and a larger group of women recruited from the local cancer registry who were matched on their similarity to the integrative oncology patients' demographic characteristics and stage of cancer at time of diagnosis. RESULTS: Almost 16% of women with breast cancer report using one or more herbs or supplements thought to potentially increase their risk for adverse bleeding-related outcomes at the time of their primary surgical treatment. This does not include the 22% who used fish and flaxseed oils, which were at one time thought to increase risk for bleeding but for which there is now evidence to suggest that they are safe. conclusion: Further research is needed to better understand the risks associated with use of a variety of herbs and supplements among women approaching surgery.