Complementary therapy use among older cancer patients

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the use of complementary t herapies among older cancer patients, to report patterns of use and to unde rstand who is more likely to use complementary therapies. DESCRIPTION OF STUDY: A survey was conducted of 699 older cancer patients a t 4 weeks and 6 weeks into cancer treatment. All participants were 64 years of age or older, had received a diagnosis of breast colorectal prostate, o r lung cancer, and were recruited from community cancer treatment centers t hroughout Michigan. Measures of interest included self-reported physical sy mptoms, depressive symptomatology, optimism, spirituality, and use of conve ntional and complementary health services. RESULTS: Approximately 33% of older cancer patients reported using compleme ntary therapies. these individuals were more likely to be women, to be brea st cancer patients, and to have a higher level of education. The three most frequently used therapies were exercise, herbal therapy, and spiritual hea ling. Complementary therapy users were significantly more optimistic than n onusers. Also, there were significant differences between users and nonuser s on types of physical symptoms experienced, but no differences on reported depressive symptomatology or spirituality. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Oncology providers need to be aware that one third o f their older patients were likely to supplement conventional care with com plementary therapies. Therefore, providers should be knowledgeable about th e safety and efficacy, in particular, of various exercise programs, herbal and vitamin therapies, and spiritual healing. It would be beneficial to dev elop a system within cancer centers by which patients could easily report o n their use of complementary therapies allowing providers to work in partne rship with their patients.