Labidi Soumaya, Ennouri Sana, Rachdi Haifa, El Benna Houda, Mejri Nesrine, Daoud Nouha, Berrazaga Yosra, Boussen Hamouda
Abderrahmen Mami Hospital, Medical oncology department SOMA, Rue de l'hôpital, 2080 Ariana, Tunisia; University Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunisia.
Abderrahmen Mami Hospital, Medical oncology department SOMA, Rue de l'hôpital, 2080 Ariana, Tunisia; University Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunisia.
Bull Cancer. 2020 Feb;107(2):209-214. doi: 10.1016/j.bulcan.2019.10.007. Epub 2020 Jan 27.
We aimed to explore the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and to identify their side effects, when used in cancer patients. We also assessed the communication of the patients and families with the oncologist about this issue.
A cross-sectional survey of 120 adult patients treated for cancer in our medical oncology department between January and April 2019, using an anonymous questionnaire to assess complementary and alternative medicine use.
One hundred twenty patients participated in the survey, among them 102 used CAM (85%). A majority of users were female patients (n=72, 70.6%), and mean age was 52.4 years±11.6. Patients had breast cancer in 48% of cases. Wild herbs were the most commonly used alternative therapy (67.7%), particularly Ephedra foeminea (Alanda) in 52% of cases. Patients' families incited them to use CAM in 64.7% of cases. Internet and social network (Facebook) were the major sources of information on CAM (79.4%), followed by family and friends (72.5%). Fourteen patients (13.7%) reported nausea and vomiting secondary to CAM use. We reported disruption of liver function in 9.8% of cases, and renal failure in 1.96%, with fatal issue in one patient using Ephedra. Nineteen patients (18.6%) informed their oncologist about the alternative therapy they received.
The oncologist has to explore the use of alternative therapies with their patients. Communication about CAM should be a part of cancer care. It may protect patients from some dangerous side effects and improve efficacy of conventional therapy.
我们旨在探讨癌症患者使用补充和替代医学（CAM）的情况，并确定其副作用。我们还评估了患者及其家属就这一问题与肿瘤学家的沟通情况。
对2019年1月至4月期间在我们医学肿瘤科接受癌症治疗的120名成年患者进行横断面调查，使用匿名问卷评估补充和替代医学的使用情况。
120名患者参与了调查，其中102人使用了补充和替代医学（85%）。大多数使用者为女性患者（n = 72，70.6%），平均年龄为52.4岁±11.6岁。48%的病例为乳腺癌患者。野生草药是最常用的替代疗法（67.7%），其中52%的病例使用麻黄（Alanda）。64.7%的病例中，患者家属鼓励他们使用补充和替代医学。互联网和社交网络（Facebook）是补充和替代医学信息的主要来源（79.4%），其次是家人和朋友（72.5%）。14名患者（13.7%）报告使用补充和替代医学后出现恶心和呕吐。我们报告9.8%的病例出现肝功能损害，1.96%的病例出现肾衰竭，1例使用麻黄的患者出现致命问题。19名患者（18.6%）告知了他们的肿瘤学家所接受的替代疗法。
肿瘤学家必须与患者探讨替代疗法的使用情况。关于补充和替代医学的沟通应成为癌症护理的一部分。这可能会保护患者免受一些危险的副作用，并提高传统疗法的疗效。
