Use of alternative therapies among breast cancer outpatients compared withthe general population

Context Breast cancer is the second largest cause of cancer death among wom en in the United States. Given the fear associated with its morbidity and m ortality, patients might seek a variety of alternative treatments. No caref ul description of breast cancer patients' interest in or use of these thera pies appears to exist. Objective To create a profile that describes interest in and use of a wide variety of alternative therapies available to breast cancer outpatients; to gather data concerning related issues such as the number of appointments f or these therapies, their cost, and reimbursement patterns; and to compare these findings with a published profile of the general public. Design An interview gauging patients' interest in and use of alternative tr eatments followed by 2 questionnaires concerning (1) mental adjustment to t he cancer experience and (2) personal growth in response to the encounter w ith cancer. Setting Suburban breast cancer clinic in a Midwestern university medical ce nter Participants 112 female breast cancer outpatients. Main Outcome Measures Rankings of interest in and use of alternative treatm ents by the patients interviewed Results The 3 most frequently used alternative therapies were prayer (76%) exercise (38%), and spiritual healing (29%). Comparison with the general pu blic profiles revealed that breast cancer patients more frequently used 17 specific alternative therapies The largest increases were found in the use of prayer (51% increase), spiritual healing (25% increase), and megavitamin s (23% increase). Only chiropractic was used substantially more often among general population. Conclusion Breast cancer outpatients involved in conventional treatment are more likely to use a wide range of alternative therapies than is the gener al public. It is likely that the mortality and morbidity associated with br east cancer motivates this increased use.