Complementary cancer therapy: a pilot study of patients, therapies and quality of life

Author(s): . , L. , P, FISHER, P., WRIGHT, S., BOYLE, H.

Abstract: Objective: To describe the patients attending a Complementary Cancer Therapy service and to measure the impact of treatment on quality of life. Design: Prospective survey. Setting: The Complementary Cancer Therapy service of a public-sector hospital. Subjects: 50 consecutive patients attending for the first time. Main outcome measures: Health-related quality of life, measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Rotterdam Symptom Checklist (RSCL). Results: Patients with many different primaries, predominantly breast (36%) attended. The mean delay between diagnosis and attendance was 2 years; 74% of patients had confirmed metastases when first seen. There were significant improvements in psychological distress (p <0.005 on the RSCL) and anxiety (p <0.01 on the HADS) after three visits. Physical symptoms remained stable. Conclusions: Complementary Cancer Therapy appears to have a positive effect on psychological distress and anxiety, and offers clinically useful improvement of quality of life. It was not possible from this study to determine which components of CCT were most beneficial. Further controlled studies are required.

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