World Journal of Medical Sciences 8 (2): 157-164, 2013 ISSN 1817-3055 © IDOSI Publications, 2013 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wjms.2013.8.2.7358 Corresponding Author: Redhwan Ahmed Al-Naggar, Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Sg. Buloh Campus, 47000 Sg Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia. 157 Complementary/alternative Medicine Use among Cancer Patients in Malaysia Redhwan A. Al-Naggar, Yuri V. Bobryshev, Mahfoudh Abdulghani, 1 2 3 Subramariam Rammohan, Muhamed T. Osman and Samiah Yasmin Abdul Kadir 3 4 5 Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia 1 Faculty of Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, 2 University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Sydney NSW, Australia Department of Pharmacology, International Medical School, Management 3 and Science University (MSU), Malaysia Department of Pathology, Centre of Pathology, Diagnostic and Research Laboratories, 4 Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Malaysia Faculty of Medicine, SEGi University, Malaysia 5 Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among cancer patients in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was carried out among cancer patients at two Malaysian referral hospitals. The questionnaire consisted of 28 items includes patients’ socio-demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics and questions about CAM use. A total number of 200 cancer patients participated in this study. The majority were female, Malay, married, with tertiary education and working (54.5%, 36.5%, 53.5%, 46.5%, 45.0%; respectively). The majority were in stage 2 and diagnosed with cancer 1 to 2 years ago (47.5%, 37.5%; respectively). The prevalence of CAM used among the study participants was found to be 14%. The majority of them used the CAM during the treatment (72.7%), used the CAM less than six months (37.0%). The majority of cancer patients reported that CAM is beneficial for them and there is no side effect of CAM and they were satisfied with CAM (65.5%, 92.0%; 80.0%; respectively). Only few patients stopped conventional treatment while using CAM (14.5%). Relieve pain (19.5%) and relieve the symptoms (16.5%) were the reasons for CAM used. The most popular CAM used among cancer patients was sea cucumber (22%) and homeopathy (10.5%). The least popular CAM used reported by the study participants was green tea (0.5%). Level of education found to be significantly influence the use of CAM among cancer patients in this study. In light of the growing interest in CAM, health-care professionals need to be educated about the most common CAM therapies used among cancer patients. This study reported a new finding that 16.4% of cancer patients stopped the standard treatment while using CAM. This is a serious problem and should be addressed and further intervention studies needed. Key words: Cancer Treatment Complementary/Alternative Medicine Malaysia INTRODUCTION types of cells and cause serious and often debilitating Cancer is the major cause of death in most countries treatment. Therefore, many cancer patients seek worldwide. The conventional therapies of cancer such as complementary and alternative therapies [1]. On the other surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormonal hand, drug interaction between CAM and chemotherapy therapy usually cause many adverse effects because or radiotherapy is a potentially hazardous [2, 3]. conventional therapies cannot differentiate between Furthermore, use of CAM has been associated with cancer cells and healthy cells; thus, they damage both cancer treatment delay [4]. side effects, frequently forcing patients to abandon