Cancer Patients Use Herbs, But Quietly

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NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Eighty-five percent of U.S. cancer patients turn to

herbs and prayer when they learn they have cancer, U.S. researchers said on

Sunday.

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A study of 750 patients around the country found that most use prayer,

relaxation techniques, exercise and sometimes herbs or megavitamins on top of

their medical therapies.

 

" We were a bit surprised by how many people were using these techniques, " said

Jennifer Yates, an information analyst at the University of Rochester in New

York who led the study.

 

" And we don't really know why they're using them -- to beat the cancer or to

ease the side effects of treatment. Those are questions we still have to ask. "

 

Speaking to a meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (news - web

sites) meeting in New Orleans, Yates said 85 percent of the patients surveyed

used prayer as a cancer treatment technique.

 

" It's not surprising that people facing serious illnesses pray, or have others

praying for them. They believe it may have a positive impact on their overall

health and well-being, " said Yates, whose work was funded by the National Cancer

Institute (news - web sites) and American Cancer Society (news - web sites).

 

About a quarter of those surveyed said they used large doses of vitamins or

changed their diets to improve their health.

 

Just last week the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine,

one of the National Institutes of Health (news - web sites), released a report

saying more than 60 percent of Americans overall used prayer or other

alternative or complementary therapies.

 

But most of the patients said they never mentioned these outside techniques to

their doctors.

 

" The typical doctor-patient encounter often leaves no room or time for a

discussion of alternative and complementary therapies, " said Rochester

oncologist Dr. Jennifer Griggs.

 

" In addition, many patients do not want to discuss issues of spirituality with

their doctors. On the other hand, it is important that patients tell their

doctors what herbs or other medications they are taking to prevent interactions

between cancer therapies and their complementary therapies. "

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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