P04.41
Purpose: We sought to define CAM use before and during active cancer treatment and investigate factors that might influence changes in CAM use for cancer patients.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of adults diagnosed with breast, prostate, lung, or colorectal cancer between 2010–2012 at the UNC Comprehensive Cancer Center. An introductory letter, questionnaire, and return-postage envelope was sent to 1794 patients. Phone calls were made to non-respondents followed by resending the questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to investigate the association between CAM use and discussion of CAM use with an oncologist.
Results: We received 597 (33.3%) completed questionnaires. The mean age (SD) was 64 years (±11); 62% were female; 79% were white; and 98% were non-Hispanic. Respondents reported the following cancer types: breast (47%), prostate (27%), colorectal (15%), lung (11%). Ninety-one percent reported any CAM use with category-specific use as follows: mind-body medicine (MBM-46%), dietary supplements (DS-83%), body-based therapies (BBT-39%), energy medicine (EM-52%). CAM use decreased during cancer treatment compared to use prior to treatment for all categories (MBM 9%, DS 17%, BBT 38% decreases) except energy medicine (8% increase). Specific therapies responsible for the changes in CAM use included: acupuncture or yoga (43% decrease), vitamins (19% decrease), chiropractic (74% decrease), prayer (10% increase). Discussion of CAM use with an oncology provider was associated with change in CAM use only for BBT (p=0.01) and EM (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Consistent with previous studies, CAM use was common among our study population. Not surprisingly CAM use decreased during active cancer treatment (with the exception of prayer) when compared to prior CAM use. However, discussion of CAM use with an oncology provider did not appear to influence cessation of dietary supplement use or mind-body medicine use during cancer treatment.
Contact: Gary Asher, gasher@med.unc.edu
