Survey on cancer patients who adopt alternative therapies

This study investigates the adoption of alternative therapies by cancer patients and the proper way of nursing cancer patients who adopt such therapies. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 68 cancer patients who had agreed to cooperate. It was found that 44 of them (64.7%) had tried one or more alternative therapy and that such therapies totaled 60 kinds. Herbal products accounted for 46 of these therapies, constituting a majority. Extract of the mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill was taken by 44 patients (75.0%). The average cost of alternative therapies was 38,000 yen per month. The reported benefits included "easing of the side-effects of anticancer agents" and "enhanced immunity." The reported problems included "unaffordably high price" and "doubts about efficacy." Patients\u27 also had these comments about the alternative therapies: "It\u27s a ray of hope," "It will help me to recover my energy, and it enhances my healing power" and "The anticancer effects are dubious." These results suggest that cancer patients who adopt alternative therapies should be nursed with an understanding given to the commitment to overcome illness, with information given to help patients make their own decisions while respecting their wishes and values, and with protection from detriments given to patients and their families.国立情報学研究所の「学術雑誌公開支援事業」により電子化されました