Survey: Breast Cancer Patients Use Meditation to Supplement Health Care

Women with breast cancer often use some form of complementary medicine, such as meditation, to supplement their health care, according to researchers at the University of Miami.

A team of psychologists spoke with a group of 231 women with breast cancer who had been diagnosed within the past year. The women answered a questionnaire that asked them whether they had ever used any complementary therapy that included such things as meditation, acupuncture, herbal medications, psychotherapy or a support group.

Researchers found that more than 50 percent of the patients had used some form of complementary medicine, the most popular being meditation, which was used by 30 percent of the women. One-third of the women reported using psychotherapy and 1 percent had used acupuncture.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Women's Association, reports that black women were more likely to report the use of herbal medicines and spiritual healing than other women.

No evidence was found showing that the use of complementary medicine was related to dissatisfaction with medical treatment. Researchers stressed that patients should always let their physician know when they are using herbal treatments to be sure they don't cause a negative interaction with prescription medications.

Other sources: Journal of the American Medical Women's Association