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Complementary and alternative therapy use in adult survivors of childhood cancer: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study
Author(s) -
Mertens Ann C.,
Sencer Susan,
Myers Cynthia D.,
Recklitis Christopher,
KadanLottick Nina,
Whitton John,
Marieyssa,
Robison Leslie L.,
Zeltzer Lonnie
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.21177
Subject(s) - medicine , childhood cancer , cancer , odds ratio , sibling , cancer survivor , survivorship curve , pediatrics , psychology , developmental psychology
Background Little information is available on the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in long‐term survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer. Procedure The Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) is a resource evaluating the long‐term effects of cancer and associated therapies in 5‐year survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer diagnosed between 1970 and 1986 before the age of 21 years. A survey of CAM use during the previous year was distributed in 2000–2001 and completed by 9,984 survivors and 2,474 sibling controls. Results CAM use reporting was similar in cases (39.4%) and siblings (41.1%). Compared to female siblings, female survivors were more likely to use biofeedback (odds ratio (OR) = 3.3; 95% CI = 1.0–10.8) and hypnosis/guided imagery (OR = 3.2; 95% CI = 1.6–6.8); male survivors were more likely than male siblings to use herbal remedies (OR = 1.3; 95% CI = 1.1–1.6). Factors associated with CAM use in survivors included elevated scores on the brief symptom inventory (BSI)‐18 (OR = 1.6; 95% CI = 1.3–1.9), prolonged pain (OR = 1.5; 95% CI = 1.3–1.7), and having seen a physician in the past 2 years (OR = 1.6; 95% CI = 1.4–1.8). Survivors reporting low alcohol intake and excellent or good general health reported lower levels of CAM use (OR = 0.7; 95% CI = 0.7–0.8 and OR = 0.8; 95% CI = 0.7–0.9, respectively). Conclusions Survivors have a similar reported use of CAM compared to a sibling cohort. However, our data suggest that survivors turn to CAM for specific symptoms related to previous diagnosis and treatment. Future research is needed to determine whether CAM use reflects unmet health needs in this population. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;50:90–97. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.