Abstract

Background: In our hospital, cancer patients are exposed to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in order to cure their cancer or to heal the symptoms. However, sometime these remedies end with complications or death. The aim of this study is to explore the benefits, and complications of CAM among Saudi cancer patients in our region.

Patients and methods: A cross-sectional, observational questionnaire-based study that included Saudi cancer patients treated with complementary medicine attending at our hospital from 2010 to 2018.

Results: A total of 80 cancer patients participated in this study. The most prominent type of CAM is Rokia, 30% followed with drinking of Zamzam water, 26.83%. Fortunately, these two types of CAM had no complications. Drinking Camel products was reported by 25% of cancer patients. This type of remedy had led to deaths of two cancer patients. Cautery use was reported by 15% of cancer patients and had led to local infection (cellulitis) at the Cautery site in 3 users and 2 cancer patients had succumb to sepsis. No benefits were clearly documented by our patients.

Conclusion: In this study, CAM usage has no beneficial effects; some can be very harmful for cancer patients including morbidity and mortality. These findings call for the urgent need for further in-depth study of CAM products to explore their beneficial effects and point out their complications.

Keywords: Cancer; Rokia; Cautery; Tameemah; Zamzam water; Camel milk; CAM

Abbreviations: DM: Diabetes Mellitus; IFN-γ: Interferon-Gamma; IL-1: Interleukin-1; IL-2: Interleukin-2; T2DM: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus; WHO: World Health Organization

High Light of the Study

A. Five types of complenentary and alternative medicine were explored in this study.

B. The therapuetic outcome of this study has showed no benefits of compementary and alternative medicine in cancer patients.

C. This study has showed serious morbidity and mortality secondary to this kind of CAM