Usage of complementary and alternative therapies in breast cancer patients

Frequent occurrence of breast cancer, low survival rate, many side effects of treatments and women's health-seeking behavior have increased the usage of complementary and alternative therapies (CAM). In Turkey, breast cancer patients often resorted to CAM methods, but there are tested by limited studies and gain results which do not answer well how frequently they were used, problems were experienced. In this study, we aimed to determine the usage of complementary and alternative treatments in breast cancer patients. This descriptive study that took the data from total 518 members who got breast cancer diagnosis of an association with cancer. We did not do sampling, but we only reached 437 members who agreed to fill out the questionnaire. Datas were taken by the questionnaire consisting of 28 questions were developed by the researchers and collected via the Internet. The analysis of data collected through a questionnaire was conducted with SPSS 19.0 software. Datas were analyzed with descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis. It was determined that the majority of women who participating was in the 40-49 age group, married, graduated from university, revenues and expenses were equivalent and in stage 2. Mostly biological approaches after diagnostic were preferred. 48.7% of women were reported that they used CAM. In the 40-49 age group, married, equivalent income and expenses and patients with second phase in breast cancer use CAM in the past and now higher than the other groups. The most used CAM method was herbal usage for treatment. All the CAM users have used at least one herbal method. Women who were in the survey mostly used CAM because of preventing from symptoms. 30,7% of women also expressed that it partially allowed their recovery. Women got advices and recommandations about CAM methods from their family members (19%) and their knowledge (19%). The women participating in this study had problems with its costs, problems such as difficulty to reach more information about methods and lack of access the methods. 56,3% of CAM users did not share their situation about CAM with health preofessionals during their treatments, but they also expressed that they would like to receive counseling about CAM methods during treatment. As a result, the majority of breast cancer patients used many CAM methods. Health professionals should be aware of this and should have enough information to give guidance as consulting on this issue.