Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2002; 7: 106–7
Little is known about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in men with prostate cancer. No population-based studies have been reported in the literature and few studies have assessed the percentage of men who declined conventional care. Therefore, we conducted a population-based study of CAM use in recently diagnosed prostate cancer patients in British Columbia.
A random sample (n = 1000) of men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer appearing in the Provincial Cancer Registry in the year 2000 were mailed a questionnaire, addressing: (1) prevalence of CAM use; (2) type of CAM used; (3) reasons for CAM use; and (4) type of information used in choosing CAM.
Thirty-nine per cent of the men used CAM, 30% of these started after their cancer diagnosis; 82% told their doctor and 4% declined conventional medicine. Diet, herbs and vitamin/mineral supplements were the most commonly used therapies. The main reasons for CAM use were: maintaining a sense of control, boosting the immune system, preventing relapse, and improving quality of life. Friends and the Internet accounted for 90% of information sources used.
The use of CAM is common in men with prostate cancer and most inform their doctors but do not obtain CAM information from them. This suggests that accessible, evidence-based information on CAM is needed by both physicians and patients.
