ArticleLaryngoscope investigative otolaryngology2021
Clinical outcomes of head and neck cancer patients who refuse curative therapy in pursuit of alternative medicine.
Article in Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Exploring Transitions in Care Among Patients With Head and Neck Cancer: A Scoping Review.Head & neck · 2026Article
- An Overview of Cancer in Djibouti: Current Status, Therapeutic Approaches, and Promising Endeavors in Local Essential Oil Treatment.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Communication About Complementary and Alternative Medicine When Patients Decline Conventional Cancer Treatment: Patients' and Physicians' Experiences.The oncologist · 2023Article
- Rural-Urban Disparities in Receipt of Surgery for Potentially Resectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.The Journal of surgical research · 2023Article
- Clinical outcomes of head and neck cancer patients who refuse curative therapy in pursuit of alternative medicine.Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology · 2021Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
backgroundWe investigated the alarming trend of curable head and neck cancer (HNC) patients forgoing conventional treatment to pursue alternative medicine (AM).
methodsA 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.
resultsAmong 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.
conclusionsAM 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
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