Title

Complementary and alternative medicine use and hormonal therapy initiation in women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer: The BQUAL study

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

5-30-2017

Publication Title

J Clin Oncol

Abstract

Background: Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been associated with initiation of breast cancer chemotherapy. We examined the association of CAM use with initiation of hormonal therapy in women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer.

Methods: In a prospective cohort study designed to examine predictors of breast cancer treatment initiation and adherence, 699 women with non-metastatic stage I-III breast cancer and aged < 70 years were recruited from Kaiser Permanente Northern California during 2006-2010. Baseline interviews assessed current use of However, vitamins/minerals users were more likely to initiate hormonal therapy compared to non-users (OR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.04, 3.51).

Conclusions: CAM use was high among early stage HR+ breast cancer patients. Overall, use of CAM was not associated with hormonal therapy initiation. Current use of vitamins/minerals was associated with higher initiation rate of hormonal chemotherapy.

Volume

35

Issue

15

COinS