National survey shows that breast cancer patients use more supplementary therapies - oncologists are surprised

National survey shows that breast cancer patients use more supplementary therapies - oncologists are surprised

New study shows that the majority of breast cancer patients use complementary medicine

A recently carried out national survey among oncologists and breast cancer patients shows that almost three quarters of patients (73%) use at least one kind of complementary medicine after the cancer diagnosis. In contrast to the assessment of the doctors, just under half of whom (43%) believes that patients apply these approaches during cancer treatment. The results of this study were published as part of the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). It turned out that doctors only talk about integrative health with about half of their patients, which means that the patients outside the clinic look for information.

The researchers carried out a national survey at the end of 2020, in which 115 clinical oncologists treating breast cancer, and 164 breast cancer patients, in which the diagnosis was made within two years before the survey. The aim of the survey was to understand awareness, use and attitudes to the use of complementary and lifestyle therapies alongside medical treatment.

According to the study, about two thirds of the oncologists (66%) and patients (65%) believe that additional and lifestyle therapies improve the quality of life of the patients. Many patients (60%) also believe that these treatments lead to better health results. Interestingly, the use of Tai Chi/Chi Gong or Acupuncture was most associated with a positive impact on the quality of life by the patient if you look at the 12 modalities tested.

The survey also examined the awareness of the patients and doctors for additional and lifestyle therapies as well as the sources of information for patients. Most oncologists stated that they were familiar with at least one therapy. These doctors consider nutritional advice, self -help groups, psycho -oncological support and exercise advice as the most important integrative services. In the case of spiritual services as well as meditation or mindfulness, which patients consider important, comparatively lower ratings were given. The patients also remember that their care teams have given fewer recommendations for these two modalities than to the others.

Both doctors and patients agree that an oncologist, an oncological nurse or a patient supervisor is a good source of information for complementary medicine and lifestyle therapies, although the patients have a slight preference directly from the oncologists.

"Many oncologists generally support the integration of complementary and lifestyle therapies into conventional medical treatment, but education and advice that is given to the patient varies greatly," said Terri Crudup, Senior Principal of Primary Intelligence at IQVIA. "Oncologists and the facilities on which they work should look for methods to inform the patients about various safe and effective supplementary and lifestyle therapies and to help them find those who help their patients the most."

The results of this study suggest that better communication and advice between doctors and patients are necessary to promote the use of complementary medicine and lifestyle therapies and to achieve the best possible results for breast cancer patients.

source:

The Reis Group