Do breast cancer patients adapt CAM methods according to the therapeutic situation?
Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2021 Jan 23;43:101305. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2021.101305
Heidrun Männle 1, Felix Momm 2, Jutta Hübner 3, Karsten Münstedt 4
Women are starting to notice that vitamin D treats Breast Cancer
How many years till they realize that vitamin D also prevents Breast Cancer
Meta-analysis of many studies of Breast Cancer and Vitamin D
- Breast Cancer not prevented by vitamin D when use small doses or for just a short time – Meta-analysis April 2023
- Breast Cancer risk - meta-analysis of 50 studies - Dec 2019
- Deaths from many types of Cancer associated with low vitamin D- review of meta-analyses Sept 2020
- Breast Cancer again associated with low vitamin D – 15th meta-analysis Sept 2020
- Breast Cancer risk reduced 17 percent by 1 hour of daily summer sun – meta-analysis Jan 2020
- Breast Cancer reduced 20 percent by fish (Omega-3) – meta-analysis Feb 2019
- Breast Cancer rate reduced by 40 percent with Omega-3 – meta-analysis June 2013
- Breast Cancer Mortality reduced 60 percent if more than 60 ng of Vitamin D – meta-analysis June 2017
- Increased risk of some female cancers if low vitamin D (due to genes) – meta-analysis June 2015
- Cancer (colon, breast, lymph) survival about 2X better with high level vitamin D – meta-analysis July 2014
- Cancer survival 4 percent more likely with just a little more vitamin D (4 ng) - meta-analysis July 2014
- Death due to breast cancer reduced 40 percent if high vitamin D – meta-analysis April 2014
- More survive Breast Cancer if more vitamin D – 2X fewer deaths with just 30 ng -meta-analysis March 2014
- Colorectal and Breast Cancer – Vitamin D is associated with fewer deaths – meta-analysis Feb 2014
- Breast Cancer – review of 2 RCT did not find association with 1000 IU of Vitamin D – July 2013
- Breast Cancer post menopause down 12 percent for every 5 ng of vitamin D – meta-analysis May 2013
- 3.2 percent less Breast Cancer for 2.4 ng more vitamin D – meta-analysis June 2013
- Breast Cancer survival 2X more likely if vitamin D sufficient – meta-analysis May 2013
- Meta-graphs of vitamin D and Cancer – Dec 2011
- Meta-analysis not find low vitamin D years before breast cancer – Aug 2010
- Meta-analysis confirmed that vitamin D and calcium prevents breast cancer – June 2010
- Meta-analysis found vitamin D association with colon but not prostate nor breast cancer May 2010
- Breast cancer association with low vitamin D suggested by Meta-analysis -April 2010
- Meta-analysis did not find strong association between vitamin D and breast cancer risk -April 2010
Background: and purpose: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is frequently used among cancer patients. It is unclear whether and how far patients adapt CAM to the treatment situation. The objective is to assess the changes of CAM use between radiotherapy for breast cancer and the follow-up.
Materials and methods: 107 patients who participated in a study assessing the possible effects of vitamin D and selenium on radiation-induced skin toxicity completed the CAM-PRIO (Working Group for Prevention and Integrative Oncology of the German Cancer Society) questionnaire during and after radiotherapy. The results were compared.
Results: Overall, 79.8% of the patients used at least one CAM method. Supplementation with vitamin D (49.4%) and selenium (28.7%) and prayer (37.1%) were the methods most used. After completing radiotherapy, many patients started using selenium, vitamin D, relaxation techniques, and yoga to a greater extent. Prior chemotherapy or concurrent endocrine treatments were not associated with the changes in CAM use.
Conclusion: CAM use is mainly reported to be a static phenomenon. However, this study shows that this is not the case and that after the end of radiotherapy patients started using new CAM methods or increased the number of methods used.