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According to a new survey, many Americans mistakenly believe that alternative therapies alone can cure cancer, even if their effectiveness has not been proven.
The survey, known as the National Cancer Opinion Survey, was released today (October 30) by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), a leading group of oncologists. The survey found that nearly 40% of Americans thought that cancer could only be cured by alternative therapies, such as oxygen therapy or the use of certain diets, vitamins, and minerals.
However, experts point out that these therapies are not recommended as a sole cancer treatment, as there is little evidence to support their benefits, and they may actually be harmful if they are used to replace standard therapies. For example, a study published in 2017 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that cancer patients who used only alternative medications were 2.5 times more likely to die during a period of time. five years, compared to those who used standard cancer treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and hormonal therapies.
"There is no doubt that evidence-based cancer therapy is needed to effectively treat the disease," said Dr. Richard Schilsky, ASCO's medical director, in a statement. The ASCO commissioned the survey, which was conducted by the Harris Poll in July and August 2018. [25 Medical Myths That Just Won’t Go Away]
"The vast majority of alternative therapies, either have not been studied rigorously, or are not known to be beneficial to patients," Schilsky said. "When patients make critical decisions about cancer treatments to undergo, it's always best to follow evidence from well-designed research studies."
Nevertheless, it is important to note that complementary and alternative medicine can play a role in helping cancer patients. Rather than replacing standard therapies, some CAM therapies can be used safely alongside standard therapies to help cancer patients control certain symptoms and side effects and improve their quality of life, according to American Cancer. Society (ACS). These therapies include acupuncture, massage therapy, meditation, tai chi and yoga. But the ACS agrees that cancer patients who discontinue conventional cancer treatments instead of resorting to alternative treatments are at risk of serious harm.
Cancer misperceptions
The new survey analyzed information from a nationally representative sample of 4,887 US adults surveyed about their knowledge and beliefs about cancer. Of these, about 1,000 had cancer at the time of the survey or in the past.
Youth in the survey were more likely to believe that alternative therapies alone could cure cancer: among those aged 18 to 37, 47% agreed with the statement that cancer can be cured only through alternative therapies ", compared to only 21% of adults aged 72 and older.
Of those who had cancer at the time or in the past, 22% thought that alternative therapies alone could cure cancer; and among family caregivers of cancer patients, 38% thought that alternative therapies alone could cure cancer.
The other results of the survey are as follows:
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Americans are worried as much about the financial burden of cancer treatment as the death of this disease. The survey found that 57% of Americans said that when they were faced with a cancer diagnosis, their main concern was the financial impact on their family or the cost of cancer treatment. This corresponds to 54% of respondents who said they were particularly concerned about death from cancer or the pain and suffering associated with cancer.
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More than 60% of caregivers of people with cancer have taken extreme measures to pay for their loved one's treatment, for example by making withdrawals into a savings account, making an early withdrawal from a caregiver. retirement account or a university fund, deferring retirement, taking a loan or a second job.
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Patients living in rural areas often have to travel long distances to see an oncologist. On average, rural patients spend approximately 50 minutes visiting their oncologist, compared to 30 minutes for untreated patients.
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Most Americans say that opioid pain medications should not be limited to cancer patients. But many cancer patients struggle to access opioid pain medications: among a sample of about 150 cancer patients who used prescription opioid medications to relieve pain or other symptoms, 40% reported having had difficulty accessing these medications.
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Most Americans – over 80% – also support the use of marijuana for medical purposes for people with cancer. But among a sample of about 70 patients who had used marijuana for medical purposes in the last year, almost 50% reported having difficulty accessing the drug.
"This survey serves as a barometer of the opinions of the American people on important cancer issues," said Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, president of ASCO, in her statement. "He revealed a number of critical areas that we urgently need to address: correcting misinformation about cancer treatments, ensuring patients have access to the pain medications they need, mitigating financial distress of patients and their loved ones too often. "
ASCO launched the National Cancer Opinion Survey in 2017. The survey last year found that many Americans had misconceptions about cancer risk factors; For example, only 30% of Americans knew that drinking alcohol is a risk factor for cancer.
Originally published on Science live.
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