Experience of Cancer Patients for the Usage of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Therapy

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cancer patients have always been reported to have multiple complications and the treatment has always seemed challenging. The complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapy has widely accepted by the patients with various disorders. AIM: This study evaluated the experience of cancer patients for the usage of CAM therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study designed to determine the experience of cancer patients for the usage of CAM therapy. RESULTS: Out of 232 cancer patients, 94% were urban residents and were non-smokers. Importantly, 66.4% of cancer patients experienced that the combination of CAM with conventional chemotherapy was effective for their treatment. Among all CAM therapies, 31.5% cancer patients experienced that herbal medicines/herbs were good. Among herbal therapies, green tea and black seeds were most effective for cancer patients. In contrast, 12.5% patients experienced that homeopathic medicines were good for their treatment. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study from Saudi Arabia to show the experience of cancer patients toward the usage of CAM therapy. Most of the cancer patients experienced that CAM therapies with the convention chemotherapy were effective for their treatment. Among all studied CAM therapies, green tea and black seeds were suggested by most of the cancer patients for their treatment.