Patterns of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Following a Cancer Diagnosis in Malaysia

Background: Worldwide surveys suggest that the use of CAM is becoming increasingly popular among the general population as well as among cancer patients. Aim: We determined the patterns of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in cancer patients, and the associated factors in a multiethnic Asian setting. Methods: Through the Asean CosTs In ONcology (ACTION) prospective cohort study, 1662 newly diagnosed cancer patients were recruited from 12 public and 2 private hospitals in Malaysia. In the current study, we only included 1328 patients who were alive and completed one-year of follow-up. Using questionnaires and cost diaries, patients' sociodemographic factors and disease related factors were measured at baseline, whereas details on CAM use were measured at 12 months. Results: Median age at cancer diagnosis was 53 years. Patients comprised those with breast cancer (33%), gastrointestinal cancers (27%), hematologic malignancies (22%), female reproductive cancers (6%), respiratory cancers (5%), a...