Use of complementary and alternative medicine and breast cancer survival in the Health, Eating Activity and Lifestyle Study

Abstract

Purpose

Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is common among breast cancer patients, but less is known about whether CAM influences breast cancer survival.

Methods

Health Eating, Activity and Lifestyle (HEAL) Study participants (n=707) were diagnosed with stage I–IIIA breast cancer. Participants completed a 30-month post-diagnosis interview including questions on CAM use (natural products such as dietary and botanical supplements, alternative health practices and alternative medical systems), weight, physical activity and co-morbidities. Outcomes were breast cancer-specific and total mortality, which were ascertained from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results registries in Western Washington, Los Angeles County and New Mexico. Cox proportional hazards regression models were fit to data to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for mortality. Models were adjusted for potential confounding by sociodemographic, health and cancer-related factors.

Results

Among 707 participants, 70 breast cancer-specific deaths and 149 total deaths were reported. 60.2% of participants reported CAM use post-diagnosis. The most common CAM was natural products (51%) including plant-based estrogenic supplements (42%). Manipulative and body-based practices and alternative medical systems were used by 27% and 13% of participants, respectively. No associations were observed between CAM use and breast cancer-specific (HR=1.04, 95% CI 0.61–1.76) or total mortality (HR=0.91, 95% CI 0.63–1.29).

Conclusion

CAM use was not associated with breast cancer-specific mortality or total mortality. Randomized controlled trials may be needed to definitively test whether there is harm or benefit from the types of CAM assessed in HEAL in relation to mortality outcomes in breast cancer survivors.