Abstract 3723: The use of complementary health approaches among US cancer survivors
Authors: Clarke Tainya C. 
Published: August 2015

Background: There are over 14 million cancer survivors in the United States (US). In addition to conventional care, many cancer survivors use complementary health approaches post-diagnosis for general health and wellness and for cancer treatment. This study sought to examine the use of complementary health approaches for any reason, and specific use for cancer treatment, by types of cancer among US adult cancer survivors with a diagnosis within the past 5 years.

Methods: Data from the 2002, 2007, and 2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were used. Adults aged 18 and older with a cancer diagnosis within five years of their interview were selected for analysis (n = 2,355). The sample size was sufficient to examine use of complementary approaches among prostate, lung, colorectal, bladder and breast cancer survivors. Participants were asked about the use of named approaches in the past 12 months, and whether their most frequently used alternative therapies were used specifically for cancer. Responses were analyzed by their mode of practice: biologically based, manipulative and body based, mind and body approaches, and whole medical systems. Information on concurrent use of conventional medical treatment for cancer was not available. Sample data were weighted to produce national estimates that are representative of the civilian noninstitutionalized US adult population.

Results: The study sample represented more than 5 million cancer survivors. In general, 35% of these survivors used complementary health approaches in the past 12 months; however, only 3.3% specifically used an approach for cancer treatment. More cancer survivors used a biologically based approach for any reason (22.8%) and specifically for cancer treatment (2.3%) in the past 12 months compared to mind and body approaches (14.9% and 1.9%), manipulative and body based approaches (14.2% and 1.1%) and whole medical systems (3.7% and 0.5%). Biologically based approaches were the most common approaches used for any reason among prostate (22.7%), lung (17.3%), colorectal (19.5%), and bladder (23.5%) cancer survivors. Breast cancer survivors were equally as likely to use biologically based (24.9%) and mind and body (26.2%) approaches. More than 5% of colorectal cancer survivors used a biologically based approach for treatment (5.5%); while 6.8% of lung cancer survivors used mind and body and 5.1% used manipulative and body based approaches.

Conclusion: The study findings offer information on the use of complementary health approaches and use specific to treatment among cancer survivors with a diagnosis within the past 5 years. The use of complementary health approaches among survivors differs by type of approach and by cancer type. When combined with evidence-based research, the knowledge gained may be used in physician-patient dialogue about the use of complementary health approaches during cancer treatment, or lend to developing personalized comprehensive and integrative cancer care plans.

Citation Format: Tainya C. Clarke. The use of complementary health approaches among US cancer survivors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 3723. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-3723