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Clinical outcomes of head and neck cancer patients who refuse curative therapy in pursuit of alternative medicine

Balogh, Lauren C. ; Matthews, T. Wayne ; Schrag, Christiaan and Elebro, Karin A. LU (2021) In Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology 6(5). p.991-998
Abstract

Background: We investigated the alarming trend of curable head and neck cancer (HNC) patients forgoing conventional treatment to pursue alternative medicine (AM). Methods: A prospectively maintained database identified HNC patients with ≥12 weeks from diagnosis to treatment initiation between 2012 and 2017. Reasons for delay were categorized and clinical stages and outcomes of AM patients were assessed through chart review by December 2019. Results: Among 1462 patients with primary HNC, 68 patients (4.7%) were confirmed to delay initiation of potentially curative treatment, and 19 of these patients (28%) delayed treatment to pursue AM. Eleven of 19 AM patients transitioned from curative intent to palliation while exploring AM. Continued... (More)

Background: We investigated the alarming trend of curable head and neck cancer (HNC) patients forgoing conventional treatment to pursue alternative medicine (AM). Methods: A prospectively maintained database identified HNC patients with ≥12 weeks from diagnosis to treatment initiation between 2012 and 2017. Reasons for delay were categorized and clinical stages and outcomes of AM patients were assessed through chart review by December 2019. Results: Among 1462 patients with primary HNC, 68 patients (4.7%) were confirmed to delay initiation of potentially curative treatment, and 19 of these patients (28%) delayed treatment to pursue AM. Eleven of 19 AM patients transitioned from curative intent to palliation while exploring AM. Continued treatment rejection was common and outcomes corresponded to patients' degree of treatment adherence. Conclusions: AM caused treatment delay and poor outcomes in potentially curable HNC. Improved knowledge among physicians regarding AM and complementary approaches is urgently needed to improve patient counseling. Level of Evidence: Level 2c outcomes research.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
alternative medicine, clinical outcomes, disease progression, head and neck cancer, treatment delay
in
Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology
volume
6
issue
5
pages
991 - 998
publisher
Wiley
external identifiers
  • scopus:85113165121
  • pmid:34667841
ISSN
2378-8038
DOI
10.1002/lio2.636
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3202d771-59a0-445b-858f-7eff77346228
date added to LUP
2021-09-06 10:40:33
date last changed
2025-04-06 20:26:42
@article{3202d771-59a0-445b-858f-7eff77346228,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: We investigated the alarming trend of curable head and neck cancer (HNC) patients forgoing conventional treatment to pursue alternative medicine (AM). Methods: A prospectively maintained database identified HNC patients with ≥12 weeks from diagnosis to treatment initiation between 2012 and 2017. Reasons for delay were categorized and clinical stages and outcomes of AM patients were assessed through chart review by December 2019. Results: Among 1462 patients with primary HNC, 68 patients (4.7%) were confirmed to delay initiation of potentially curative treatment, and 19 of these patients (28%) delayed treatment to pursue AM. Eleven of 19 AM patients transitioned from curative intent to palliation while exploring AM. Continued treatment rejection was common and outcomes corresponded to patients' degree of treatment adherence. Conclusions: AM caused treatment delay and poor outcomes in potentially curable HNC. Improved knowledge among physicians regarding AM and complementary approaches is urgently needed to improve patient counseling. Level of Evidence: Level 2c outcomes research.</p>}},
  author       = {{Balogh, Lauren C. and Matthews, T. Wayne and Schrag, Christiaan and Elebro, Karin A.}},
  issn         = {{2378-8038}},
  keywords     = {{alternative medicine; clinical outcomes; disease progression; head and neck cancer; treatment delay}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{991--998}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley}},
  series       = {{Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology}},
  title        = {{Clinical outcomes of head and neck cancer patients who refuse curative therapy in pursuit of alternative medicine}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/lio2.636}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/lio2.636}},
  volume       = {{6}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}