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Journal of Cancer Survivorship

Published in:

01-10-2016

Complementary and alternative medicine use among US cancer survivors

Authors: Gabriella M. John, Dawn L. Hershman, Laura Falci, Zaixing Shi, Wei-Yann Tsai, Heather Greenlee

Published in: Journal of Cancer Survivorship | Issue 5/2016

Abstract

Purpose

US cancer survivors commonly use vitamins/minerals and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). We compare use of vitamins/minerals and CAM between adult cancer survivors and cancer-free adults and estimate annual out-of-pocket expenses.

Methods

Data on self-reported vitamin/mineral and CAM use in the past 12 months from the cross-sectional 2012 US National Health Interview Survey were used to estimate prevalence of use and out-of-pocket expenditures. The cohort included adults with (n = 2977) and without (n = 30,551) a self-reported cancer diagnosis.

Results

Approximately 79 % of cancer survivors and 68 % of cancer-free adults reported using ≥1 vitamins/minerals and/or CAM modality in the past year. Compared to cancer-free adults, cancer survivors were more likely to report use of vitamin/minerals (75 vs. 61 %, P < 0.001), non-vitamin/mineral natural products (24 vs. 19 %, P < 0.001), manipulative and body-based therapies (19 vs. 17 %, P = 0.03), and alternative medical systems (5 vs. 4 %, P = 0.04). Adult cancer survivors and cancer-free adults spent an annual estimated $6.7 billion and $52 billion out-of-pocket, respectively, on vitamins/minerals and CAM. Survivors spent 60 % of the total on vitamins/minerals ($4 billion), 18 % ($1.2 billion) on non-vitamin/mineral natural products, and 7 % ($0.5 billion) on massage.

Conclusions

Compared with cancer-free adults, a higher proportion of cancer survivors report vitamin/mineral and CAM use. Cancer survivors, who accounted for 6.9 % of the total population, accrued more than 11.4 % of the annual out-of-pocket costs on vitamins/minerals and CAM spent by US adults.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

Given the high use of vitamins/minerals and CAM in cancer survivors, studies are needed to analyze health outcomes and the cost/benefit ratio of such use.

Available only for authorised users

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Title: Complementary and alternative medicine use among US cancer survivors
Authors: Gabriella M. John
Dawn L. Hershman
Laura Falci
Zaixing Shi
Wei-Yann Tsai
Heather Greenlee
Publication date: 01-10-2016
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Cancer Survivorship / Issue 5/2016
Print ISSN: 1932-2259
Electronic ISSN: 1932-2267
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-016-0530-y

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