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One-third of cancer patients turn to herbal supplements, cannabis and meditation – but many do not tell their doctor, study finds
- 33% of the 3,100 cancer patients told researchers at the University of Texas that they were integrating complementary medicine into their treatment plan
- 29% of them said that they had not talked to their doctor
- Experts say that there should be policies that require doctors to discuss complementary medicine
According to a new study, one third of American cancer patients use complementary or alternative medicine, but many do not talk to their doctor.
Of 3,100 patients, 33% told researchers at the University of Texas that they had incorporated meditation, medical cannabis, herbal supplements or even special diets into their treatment program on their own.
And 29% said they kept their doctor's secret – either because they did not want to disclose it or because their doctor did not ask for it.
Senior author Nina Sanford, MD, said there should be policies requiring doctors to discuss complementary medications with cancer patients so that they can better advise and treat them.
With respect to life-threatening diseases, it is common for doctors to become a bit shy by mentioning a diet or supplement with very little research to confirm it – especially when accompanied by false statements and over-activated that he could "cure" the patient. disease
Although there is no effective complementary cancer drug, some may offer other benefits that improve mental health or relieve pain.
However, some methods, especially methods promoted online as "miracle cures", could be very dangerous.
"Many complementary or alternative medicines are potentially very useful, such as mindfulness or meditation – these are things we would recommend anyway," said Dr. Sanford, who treats patients at UT Southwestern, at DailyMail. com.
"But other things could be harmful, like supplements or special diets.
"It's important for a doctor to know everything his patient is doing so he can advise him and find a way to safely integrate it into his care."
The glaring problem is that oncologists are generally not trained in complementary or alternative medicine.
With respect to life-threatening diseases, it is common for doctors to become a bit shy by mentioning a diet or supplement with very little research to confirm it – especially when accompanied by false statements and over-activated that he could "cure" the patient. disease.
Doctors also have little time, overflow of patients and a lot of logistical information, which creates an ideal cocktail of tension.
"Doctors have to cover a lot of frequent and short visits. Therefore, asking questions about complementary or alternative medicine is not part of standard care, "says Sanford.
But a growing body of research shows that the gap between traditional medicine and complementary medicine needs to be bridged.
According to a recent study by researchers at Yale University, patients with cancer who are trying a complementary or alternative medicine are more likely to abandon conventional treatments such as chemotherapy, which could increase their risk of death.
Dr. Cary Gross, lead author of the Yale study, told DailyMail.com in July that the study was published: "The lack of comfort of doctors to discuss these alternative treatments and their misunderstanding to them. subject perpetuate in patients the feeling that they can not argue with their doctor for fear of feeling belittled or ignorant.
"Too many people think that doctors only work for big pharmaceutical companies and are more profit-oriented than comfortable.
"We need to understand why these measures help cancer patients feel better and we need to discuss them."
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