An Analysis of the Use of Complementary and Alternative Therapies in Patients with Breast Cancer

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and the factors that influence their use in patients with breast cancer. Patients and Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out with 135 breast cancer patients on chemotherapy. Results: 30.4% of patients admitted using one or more CAM methods. The most common method was herbal therapy (97.6%). There were statistically significant differences among CAM users and non-users in terms of time elapsed since initial diagnosis, current stage of the disease, and current type of therapy. As the time since the initial diagnosis increased, so did the percentage of CAM users. Those patients with advanced stage cancer or relapsed disease who were receiving palliative therapy used CAM methods more than those receiving adjuvant therapy. As far as quality of life was concerned, symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, dyspnea, and diarrhea were more common among CAM users. Conclusion: It is important and necessary that health professionals working in oncology clinics are made aware of the common use of CAM methods so that they can provide the necessary communication between patients and other health professionals on these treatment modalities.