Alternative medicine use worldwide - The International Union Against Cancer Survey

BACKGROUND. In the current study, the authors attempted to surmount the def iciencies of previous surveys and elicit information regarding the use of a lternative treatments of cancer worldwide. METHODS. The International Union Against Cancer (UICC), an international, n ongovernment volunteer organization, E-mailed a questionnaire concerning al ternative therapy use to its members. RESULTS. A total of 83 responses from 33 countries were received. Descripti ve analyses of this dataset were conducted, indicating the existence of a l arge and heterogeneous group of unproved remedies used to treat cancer in b oth developed and developing countries around the world. CONCLUSIONS, Improved public education concerning the importance of early m edical attention and the value of documented cancer therapies, the wider av ailability of useful cancer treatments, and public policies that are sensit ive to the patient's need to play a meaningful role in his or her own care are required. (C) 2000 American Cancer Society.