NEW ORLEANS, May 24 (Reuters Health) - Cancer patients seem to be taking far
more alternative therapies than previously thought, but usually only divulge
they are doing so when directly questioned by their doctors, a University of
Pennsylvania researcher said here Tuesday.
It is important that doctors know about cancer patients' use of alternative
remedies because some of them can interfere with conventional cancer
treatments.
Dr. John Metz told physicians at the American Society of Clinical Oncology
meeting that he and colleagues interviewed 196 people who came in for initial
treatment of their cancer. All were given a standard physical exam and battery
of questions. Based on that, only 13 patients, or 7 percent, said they were taking a
therapy that might be considered alternative or unconventional.
But when asked directly whether they were taking vitamins, herbal
supplements, shark cartilage, or had used guided imagery or meditation to treat
their cancer, another 66 admitted they were.
Of the total 79 patients who were taking the therapies, more than half were
taking at least two. One patient was taking 17 different therapies, said Metz.
The most common was high dose vitamin C, meaning more than ten grams per
day. There have been three major clinical studies showing that high dose
vitamin C has no effect on cancer, said Metz.
Patients also reported taking high dose vitamin E, garlic, saw palmetto
(mostly for prostate cancer), shark cartilage, St. John's wort, and echinacea.
Only 4 percent of patients said they used biofeedback or guided imagery.
Women were more likely than men to use unconventional therapies, but there
was no difference in the age of patients who said they did or did not use
vitamins, herbs or other products.
Metz said that the study shows that cancer physicians should more directly
question their patients about the use of such therapies, noting that some have
the potential for interacting with hormones or chemotherapy given to combat
cancer.
But, he said, he does not always tell his patients to stop taking the
products, partly because it might take away their sense of control. "A lot
of this is a control issue--the patients don't want to feel like they've lost
any more control over their life," he said.
He advises against the products if he knows of a specific interaction with
conventional therapies.
