Factors related to tumor size of breast cancer at treatment in Taiwan

The Status of Alternative Treatment in Cancer Patients in Turkey

This study was designed to measure the frequency at which Turkish patients with cancer resort to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). A total of 704 patients referred to the Gülhane Military Medical Academy and Ankara Numune Training Hospital between September 2002 and January 2003 were asked about the CAM therapies they used. Of these, 276 patients (39.2%) had used CAM. Gender, marital status, educational status, age, financial status, severity of pain, history of cancer in the family, and their own ideas concerning CAM therapies were found to be correlated with the frequency of resorting to CAM. Resorting to CAM may lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment, adverse drug interactions, treatment withdrawal, and disease progression. Therefore, it is very important to inform patients about these potential dangers. Further studies are needed to clarify the reasons that lead patients to resort to CAM.

Survey of the use of complementary and alternative medicine among Turkish cancer patients

OBJECTIVES

To measure the frequency of use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among patients with malignancy undergoing or following conventional treatment, to determine demographic characteristics associated with the use of CAM, and to find out how benefits, if any, were perceived by patients.

DESIGN

A 35-item survey questionnaire administered to 305 return patients with malignancy.

SETTING

Clinical wards of the Oncology and Haematology departments of Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.

METHODS

Questionnaire-based measures of demographics, motives, expectations and effects of using CAM, and types and reported perceived benefits of CAM practised on patients with malignancy.

RESULTS

The majority of return patients (n = 186, 61.0%) used at least one CAM practice; and birthplace, educational status, and family type were significant factors in such behaviour.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with malignancy born in villages, having less education and living in large families were more likely to use folk medicine. More than half of those using CAM (n = 99, 53.2%) reported as benefits the feelings of either strengthening of the body, being in good psychological condition, or the disappearance of several symptoms.

Oral contraceptives and breast cancer risk in Taiwan, a country of low incidence of breast cancer and low use of oral contraceptives

One hundred and seventy four (81% of all) pathologically confirmed new incident cases of female breast cancer identified from a medical center in Taipei from February, 1993 to June, 1994 were selected as the case group. Four hundred and fifty three inpatient controls who were without obstetric-gynecological, breast, or malignant diseases were individually matched for each case by age and date of admission. Information was obtained through direct interview and review of medical records. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the effects of each risk factor. After adjusting for education level, body mass index, age at menarche and first full-term pregnancy, parity, menopausal status and age at menopause, lifetime lactation, use of lactation inhibition hormones, and family history of breast cancer, breast cancer risk significantly elevated in use of OC before 25 years old and before 1971. In stratified analysis, significantly higher risk were found in OC use before 25 years old and in duration of use less than one year among post-menopausal subjects. Our results support the notion that OC use in early life for younger women and in early calendar years increase breast cancer risk.

From attending a class on breast self-examination (BSE) to coping with breast cancer: the experiences of eight women

This study compared the effectiveness of three methods of teaching breast self-examination (BSE). It involved 587 women who were followed for six years. During the follow-up period, eight women developed breast cancer. These women were interviewed to determine their care-seeking behaviours. Generally speaking, they identified the first sign of the problem themselves; most sought attention fairly soon after detection; some received a diagnosis immediately, while others experienced considerable delay. They were not particularly well-informed about their treatment options but were fairly well-informed regarding their diagnosis and treatment plan. Four women continue to be well, while four have had a recurrence. Of those having a recurrence, three are deceased, and one remains well. The findings in this study support the need to address (1) women's presentation of symptoms once discovered, and (2) the health care system's response to women who do present on the basis of findings through BSE.