Prevalence and patterns of the use of complementary therapies among prostate cancer patients: An epidemiological analysis

Purpose: We determine the prevalence and patterns of the use of complementa ry therapies among patients with and those at high risk for prostate cancer . Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed of men presen ting to 2 urban tertiary urology clinics for prostate cancer evaluation or followup, and those attending a prostate cancer support group. All men diag nosed with and those at:high risk (positive family history or abnormal pros tate specific antigen) for prostate cancer were eligible for study. A 9-ite m self-administered, anonymous questionnaire about complementary therapies was administered. Results: Of 357 patients who received the survey 155 from the urology clini cs and 113 from the support group responded, for a total response rate of 7 5%. Of the patients presenting to urology clinics and the support group 27. 4 and 38.9% with and 25.8 and 80% at high risk for prostate cancer, respect ively, used some form of complementary therapy. The use significantly diffe red according to disease status (p = 0.001), and was highest among men who were clinically disease-free after radical therapy. Of the patients 24% did not inform the urologist of using alternative therapy. Conclusions: The prevalence of the use of complementary therapy among patie nts with or at increased risk for prostate cancer was high and dependent on the disease state. Urologists should be aware of this pattern of use, and consider the potential effects when assessing patients for and with prostat e cancer.