Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Breast Surgical Techniques and Interdisciplinary Management pp 787–796Cite as

Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Breast Cancer

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

  • 2521 Accesses

Abstract

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has historically been very popular among women with breast cancer. Interest in a holistic and individualized approach to medicine in general and effective communication styles and concerns about the side effect from local and systemic therapy along with media and internet coverage have all played a role in this trend. CAM encompasses a rather broad array of modalities. An overview of these approaches is provided.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Lee M, Lin SS, Wrensch MM, et al. Alternative therapies used by women with breast cancer in four ethnic populations. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2000;92:42–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Beuttner C, Kroenke CM, Phillips RS, et al. Correlates of use of different types of complementary and alternative medicine by breast cancer survivors in the nurses’ health study. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2006;100:219–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Boone HS, Olatunde F, Zick SM. Trends in complementary/alternative medicine use be breast cancer survivors: Comparing survey data from 1998 and 2005. BMC Women’s Health. 2007;7:4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Jacobson JS, Workman SB, Kronenberg F. Research on complementary/alternative medicine for breast cancer: a review of the biomedical literature. J Clin Oncol. 2000;18:668–83.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Gerber B, Scholz C, Reimer T, et al. Complementary and alternative therapeutic approaches in patients with early breast cancer: a systematic review. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2006; 95:199–209.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Deng GE, Cassileth BR, Cohen L, et al. Integrative oncology practice guidelines. J Soc Integr Oncol. 2007;5:65–84.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Holmes MD, Chen WY, Feskanich D, et al. Physical activity and survival after breast cancer diagnosis. JAMA. 2005;293:2479–86.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. McNeely ML, Campbell KL, Rowe BH, et al. Effects of exercise on breast cancer patients and survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. CMAJ. 2006;175:34–41.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Prentice RL, Caan B, Chlebowski RT, et al. Low-fat dietary pattern and risk of invasive breast cancer: the Women’s Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification Trial. JAMA. 2006;295:629–42.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Chlebowski RT, Blackburn GL, Thomson CA, et al. Dietary fat reduction and breast cancer outcome: interim efficacy results from the Women’s Intervention Nutrition Study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2006;98:1767–76.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Pierce J, Natarajan L, Caan BJ, et al. Influence of a diet very high in vegetables, fruit and fiber and low fat on prognosis following treatment for early breast cancer. The womens healthy eating and living (WHEL) randomized trial. JAMA. 2007;298:289–98.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Holmes MD, Willett WC. Does diet affect breast cancer risk? Breast Cancer Res. 2004;6:170–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Moertel CG, Fleming TR, Creagan ET, et al. High-dose vitamin C versus placebo in the treatment of patients with advanced cancer who have had no prior chemotherapy. A randomized double-blind comparison. N Engl J Med. 1985;312:137–41.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Omenn GS, Goodman GE, Thornquist MD, et al. Effects of a combination of beta carotene and vitamin A on lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. N Engl J Med. 1996;334:201050–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Ladas EJ, Jacobson JS, Kennedy DD, et al. Antioxidants and cancer therapy: a systematic review. J Clin Oncol. 2004;22:517–28.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Nelson HD, Vesco KK, Haney E, et al. Nonhormonal therapies for menopausal hot flashes: systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2006;295:2057–71.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Kienle GS, Berrino F, Bussing A, et al. Mistletoe in cancer – a systematic review on controlled clinical trials. Eur J Med Res. 2003;8:109–19.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Sun CL, Yuan JM, Koh WP, et al. Green tea, black tea and breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis of epidemiological studies. Carcinogenesis. 2006;27:1310–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Rugo H, Shtivelman E, Perez A, et al. Phase 1 trial and antitumor effects of BZL101 for patients with advanced breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2006. doi: 10.1007/sl0549-006-9430-06.

  20. Sparreboom A, Cox MC, Acharya MR, et al. Herbal remedies in the United States: potential adverse interactions with anticancer agents. J Clin Oncol. 2004;22:2489–503.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Zhang M, Liu X, Li J, et al. Chinese medicinal herbs to treat the side-effects of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;2:CD004921.

    Google Scholar 

  22. NIH Consensus Statement on Acupuncture 1997 – Available at http://consensus.nih.gov/1997/1997Acupuncture107html.htm. Accessed 1 Sep 2010.

  23. Cohen AJ, Menter A, Hale L. Acupuncture: role in comprehensive cancer care–a primer for the oncologist and review of the literature. Integr Cancer Ther. 2005;4:131–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Vickers AJ, Feinstein MB, Deng GE, et al. Acupuncture for dyspnea in advanced cancer: a randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial. BMC Palliat Care. 2005;4:5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Ezzo JM, Richardson MA, Vickers A, et al. Acupuncture-point stimulation for chemotherapy-induced nausea or vomiting. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006;2:No. CD002285.

    Google Scholar 

  26. McNeely ML, Magee DJ, Lees AW, et al. The addition of manual lymph drainage to compression therapy for breast cancer related lymphedema: a randomized controlled trial. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2004;86:95–106.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Cassileth BR, Vickers AJ. Massage therapy for symptom control: outcome study at a major cancer center. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2004;28:244–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Milazzo S, Russell N, Ernst E, et al. Efficacy of homeopathic therapy in cancer treatment. Eur J Cancer. 2006;42:282–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Thompson EA, Montgomery A, Douglas D, et al. A pilot, randomized, double-blinded, ­placebo-controlled trial of individualized homeopathy for symptoms of estrogen withdrawal in breast-cancer survivors. J Altern Complement Med. 2005;2010:13–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Standish LJ, Greene K, Greenlee H, et al. Complementary and alternative medical treatment of breast cancer: a survey of licensed North American naturopathic physicians. Altern Ther Health Med. 2002;8(68–70):72–5.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Moadel AB, Shah C, Wylie-Rosett J, et al. Randomized controlled trial of yoga among a multi-ethnic sample of breast cancer patients: effects on quality of life. J Clin Oncol. 2007;25:4387–95.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Sandel SL, Judge JO, Landry N, et al. Dance and movement program improves quality-of-life measures in breast cancer survivors. Cancer Nurs. 2005;28:301–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Oster I, Svensk AC, Magnusson E, et al. Art therapy improves coping resources: a randomized, controlled study among women with breast cancer. Palliat Support Care. 2006;4:57–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Bozcuk H, Artac M, Kara A, et al. Does music exposure during chemotherapy improve quality of life in early breast cancer patients? A pilot study. Med Sci Monit. 2006;2:CR200–5.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Smith S, Anderson-Hanley C, Langrock A, et al. The effects of journaling for women with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Psychooncology. 2005;14:1075–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Montgomery GH, Bovbjerg DH, Schnur JB, et al. A randomized clinical trial of a brief ­hypnosis intervention to control side effects in breast surgery patients. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2007;99:1304–12.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Elkins G, Marcus J, Palamara L, et al. Can hypnosis reduce hot flashes in breast cancer survivors? A literature review. Am J Clin Hypn. 2004;47:29–42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Hidderley M, Holt M. A pilot randomized trial assessing the effects of autogenic training in early stage cancer patients in relation to psychological status and immune system responses. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2004;8:61–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Kite SM, Maher EJ, Anderson K, et al. Development of an aromatherapy service at a cancer centre. Palliat Med. 1998;12:171–80.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Rossman ML. Interactive Guided Imagery as a way to access patient strengths during cancer treatment. Integr Cancer Ther. 2004;1:162–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Yoo HJ, Ahn SH, Kim SB, et al. Efficacy of progressive muscle relaxation training and guided imagery in reducing chemotherapy side effects in patients with breast cancer and in improving their quality of life. Support Care Cancer. 2005;13:826–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Vickers AJ. Alternative cancer cures: “unproven” or “disproven”. CA Cancer J Clin. 2004; 54:20100–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Miller DR, Anderson GT, Stark JJ, et al. Phase I/II trial of the safety and efficacy of shark cartilage in the treatment of advanced cancer. J Clin Oncol. 1998;16:3649–55.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Kaegi E. Unconventional therapies for cancer: 6. 714-X. Task Force on Alternative Therapeutic of the Canadian Breast Cancer Research Initiative. CMAJ. 1998;158:1621–4.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Kaegi E. Unconventional therapies for cancer: 1. Essiac. The Task Force on Alternative Therapies of the Canadian Breast Cancer Research Initiative. CMAJ. 1998;158:897–902.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Moertel CG, Fleming TR, Rubin J. A clinical trial of amygdalin (Laetrile) in the treatment of human cancer. N Engl J Med. 1982;306:201–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Loprinzi CL, Kuross SA, O’Fallon JR, et al. Randomized placebo-controlled evaluation of hydrazine sulfate in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. J Clin Oncol. 1994;12:201021–5.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Kushi LH, Byers T, Doyle C, et al. American Cancer Society Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for cancer prevention: reducing the risk of cancer with healthy food choices and physical activity. CA Cancer J Clin. 2006;56:254–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Women’s Cancer Program, Pesiscilla and Art Chair in Women’s Cancer,Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Debu Tripathy

Authors
  1. Debu Tripathy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Debu Tripathy .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Middle Ave. 1285, Menlo Park, 94025, California, USA

    Frederick Dirbas

  2. Iowa City, USA

    Carol Scott-Conner

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Tripathy, D. (2010). Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Breast Cancer. In: Dirbas, F., Scott-Conner, C. (eds) Breast Surgical Techniques and Interdisciplinary Management. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6076-4_65

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6076-4_65

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-6075-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-6076-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation