Quality of Life in Women With Breast Cancer and the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Ruqyah and Its Use among Patients with Cancer

In this article, we reviewed ruqyah from past to present and its use among patients with cancer to attract attention to the importance of ruqyah. Ruqyah, one of the mind–body interventions among complementary and alternative medicine therapies, refers to the healing method based on the Quran and hadith through the recitation of the Quran, seeking of refuge, remembrance, and dua (supplication) that is used as a means of treating sickness and other problems, by reading ayats of the Quran, the names and attributes of Allah, or by using the duas in Arabic or in an understandable language. Ruqyah is frequently used in patients with cancer in combination with medical treatment, and many patients benefit from ruqyah practices. It is usually used to improve emotional and physical well-being, relax, cope with the disease, strengthen the immune system, increase vitality, decrease pain and stress, treat disease, accelerate the healing process, increase the duration of life, improve sleep quality, reduce side effects associated with treatment, and to be self-sufficient. Ruqyah is a complementary method for modern cancer treatment. It is not an alternative to chemotherapy and cannot directly replace medical treatment. Patients can perform ruqyah by themselves without applying to Muslim faith healers or spiritual healing centers. It can be by everyone regardless of their religion and belief. Although ruqyah has been successfully used in various social, mental, spiritual, and physical disorders for over 1,440 years, there are limited randomized controlled trials about its use in patients with cancer due to lack of cooperation between health professionals and Muslim faith healers applying ruqyah. Therefore, we suggest that health professionals develop joint projects and studies with Muslim faith healers and Islamic religion professionals on this subject. Finally, we strongly believe that ruqyah must be integrated into mainstream modern medicine as in the “Malaysia model” in both developing and developed countries.

The Effects of Peppermint Oil on Nausea, Vomiting and Retching in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: An Open Label Quasi-Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

OBJECTIVES

The current study evaluated the effects of peppermint oil on the frequency of nausea, vomiting, retching, and the severity of nausea in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

DESIGN

A quasi-randomized controlled study.

SETTING

Patients were recruited from the ambulatory chemotherapy unit of a public hospital located (Batman, Turkey) between September 2017 and September 2018.

INTERVENTIONS

The participants in the intervention group applied one drop the aromatic mixture on the spot between their upper lip and their nose, three times a day for the five days following chemotherapy administration, in addition to the routine antiemetic treatment. Participants in the control group underwent only the routine antiemetic treatment. Main outcome measures VAS-the severity of nausea and the Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching.

RESULTS

The VAS nausea score was significantly lower after peppermint oil applying in the patients receiving Folfirinox (treatment effect (mean dif.): 4.00±2.28; P<0.001), Paclitaxel-Trastuzumab (treatment effect (mean dif.): 1.70±0.90; P=0.014), Carboplatin-Paclitaxel (treatment effect (mean dif.): 3.71±1.41; P<0.001), and Cyclophosphamide-Adriamycin (treatment effect (mean dif.): 1.41±0.73; P=0.005) excluding cisplatin scedule (treatment effect (mean dif.): 0.56±2,18; P=0.642). We detected a statistical significant difference in the change in frequency of nausea, vomiting, retching in the other all schedules excluding cisplatin schedule (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The peppermint oil was significantly reduced the frequency of nausea, vomiting, retching and the severity of nausea in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Therefore, usage of peppermint oil together with antiemetics after chemotherapy with moderate and low emetic risk may be recommended to cope with CINV.

The use of complementary and alternative medicine among women with breast cancer in Saudi Arabia

PURPOSE

The purpose of the study was to explore the frequency of use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies among women with breast cancer in Saudi Arabia.

DESIGN

A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used with face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire.

SAMPLE

A convenient sample of 85 Saudi women with breast cancer who were undergoing cancer treatment was recruited from the Oncology Department of King Faisal Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

Using structured questionnaire "Use of Complementary Therapies Survey," consisted of diet and nutritional supplements, stress-reducing therapies, and other traditional treatments.

RESULT

Participants were predominantly married (76.5%), resided in an urban area (83.5%), unemployed (62%), and about half reported no income (49.4%). The mean age was 48 years. All participants reported using at least three or more CAM therapies (mean = 21.15, SD = 8.85) since their diagnosis. There were significant correlations between other CAM use and time since diagnosis (r_s = -0.33, p < .05). The highest usage of dietary and nutritional supplements occurred with honey, olive oil, antioxidants, Fennel flower seeds, and ginger. The highest stress reducing CAM techniques included reading the Holy Qur'ãn, and praying. For other traditional CAM therapies, positive thinking and relaxation techniques were the most frequent methods reported by women. Other CAM treatments involved ZamZam water and listening to music.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of complementary therapies among Saudi women with breast cancer is highly prevalent, with a predominance of interventions of religious background, indicating the strong influence of religion on peoples' lives, especially when people are faced with a life-threatening illness. The results of this study will guide future studies examining the efficacy of CAM on symptom management in Saudi Arabian women with breast cancer and other types of cancer.

Complementary and Alternative Medicines and Patients With Breast Cancer: A Case of Mortality and Systematic Review of Patterns of Use in Patients With Breast Cancer

Background

The use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) is common among women being treated for breast cancer. A recent mortality associated with CAM at our center precipitated a systematic review of the Cochrane, EMBASE, and PubMed databases to identify English manuscripts including "CAM" and "breast cancer."

Methods

Papers included for review were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The primary outcome was the use of CAM by women with breast cancer. Secondary outcomes included timing of use along disease trajectory, attitudes toward CAM by allopathic practitioners, and patient disclosure of CAM use to treating allopathic physicians.

Results

Of 701 titles identified by the search strategy, 36 met the inclusion criteria. The weighted average proportion of women with breast cancer who use CAM was 40% (standard deviation: 18%). The diagnosis of breast cancer also prompts the initiation or increase of CAM use. However, up to 84% of patients do not disclose the use of CAM to their allopathic practitioners.

Conclusions

Although CAM is often dismissed as a harmless addition to allopathic therapy, significant complications and interactions can occur. Our review and the dramatic case example provided highlight the need for physicians to educate themselves regarding CAM and to engage with their patients regarding its use.