A survey of unproven cancer remedies and their users in an outpatient clinic for cancer therapy in Finland.

Journal/Book: Soc-Sci-Med 14A (6), 511-514. 1980;

Abstract: A group of 61 male and 90 female non-selected Finnish cancer patientswere interviewed for the use of unproven cancer remedies. About 50remedies were known to these patients and 23 of these were actually inuse. The most popular remedy was extract of birch ash, but healthbeverages, with or without ascorbic acid and iodine, butterbur andbeetroot were also commonly used. 55.6% of the females and 29.5% of themales had used unproven cancer remedies and 38.9% and 37.7% respectivelyhad confidence in such remedies. Those with a higher educational levelmore often had confidence in these remedies than did those with only abasic education, but the actual use of the remedies was similar in bothgroups. The most common argument behind their use was that the remedywas health-restoring, and confidence was grounded in reports of itsbeneficial results. The majority of users had learned the remedy fromtheir friends and relatives and used it in conjunction with cancertherapy afterwards. Only a few had felt any positive effects on theircancer, however. The majority of patients had not discussed suchremedies with the medical staff.COPYRIGHT BY Elsevier Science BV, Amsterdam, Netherlands END OF DOCUMENT

Keyword(s): drug-comparison.

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