PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by the breast cancer patients in Korea. METHODS: A total of 160 patients with breast cancer answered a questionnaire about CAM use after their diagnosis of breast cancer. All the patients answered a 29-item questionnaire that included about sociodemographic characteristics of the users, the types of CAM, duration of use, the cost, reasons, sources of information and the benefits for using CAM. RESULTS: Most sociodemographic characteristics showed no significant difference between the users and non-users of CAM. Almost four fifth of the patients using CAM were between 40 and 60 years, married and had a high school education or above. The use of any type of CAM was admitted by 58 patients (36%). The most commonly used CAM was "health food" (67%). 9% of CAM users had been using CAM before the diagnosis of breast cancer, 19% since diagnosis of cancer and 70% after their breast surgery. For the duration of CAM usage, 56% patients used CAM less than 12 months. For using of CAM, 44% had spent 100,000 - 500,000 Korean won per month on CAM. For the source of information about the use of CAM, 46% of CAM users mentioned their family members, 30% from friends, 26% from media, 15% from her physician, and 9% mentioned other patients. 80% of the used CAM users do not discus their CAM usage with their physician and they use CAM along with their conventional treatment simultaneously. 69% of the CAM users perceived that CAM was helpful for their recovery and 84% of CAM users said their use of CAM will continue. CONCLUSION: Some of the patients in this study, but 80% of the patients that used CAM do not discus this with their physician during conventional treatment. Therefore, physician should query about CAM and they should be able to recommend the use of proper CAM to their patients.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Complementary Therapies* ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Friends ; Humans ; Korea ; Surveys and Questionnaires