Journal of Traditional Medicine & Clinical Naturopathy
Open Access

Breast cancer; Complementary therapy; Homeopathy

Introduction

The most prevalent form of cancer affecting women worldwide is breast cancer (BC). In the year 2020, it is anticipated that 2.3 million new cases of BC will be diagnosed. Since 2008, the incidence of BC has increased by 20% worldwide, and the overall mortality rate has increased by 14%2. the prognosis of patients who have BC has unquestionably improved over the course of the past few years. Since BC survival rates have increased, the quality of life (QOL) of patients as well as the potential side effects (SEs) of cancer treatments is receiving more attention. Surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and/or hormone therapy are all options for treating BC. These therapies might make intense unfavorable impacts, making an extra weight on patients. These might be a portion of the justifications for why expanding quantities of patients with BC these days wish to involve correlative strategies as strong consideration in malignant growth treatment [1-3]. From 14.8% in Greece to 73.1 percent in Italy, complementary medicine (CM) is becoming more common in oncology.6 its goal is to help patients better cope with their illness and SEs of cancer treatments that specifically affect their health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Most European nations show similitudes in the utilization of reciprocal medication. Along with herbs, vitamins, and medicinal teas, homeopathy is one of the most common complementary therapies in seven of the fourteen European nations 6; In some studies, the use of homeopathy in cancer patients has been associated with an improvement in quality of life (QoL) and a decrease in fatigue symptoms; however, the benefits of homeopathy on QoL have only rarely been investigated.

These observations suggest that when combined with conventional cancer treatment, homeopathy may benefit patients. However, these conclusions are mostly based on case reports, and there aren't many data on patient survival.10-13 As a result, there are a few comparative studies that use a national healthcare database, especially for large numbers of patients [4]. Most of these studies use descriptive epidemiology. One of the most common complementary and alternative treatments for cancer, homeopathy has been reported to be used by 12 to 19 percent of BC patients. Studies have shown that patients with cancer receiving additive homeopathic treatment have better HRQOL and less adverse drug reactions. Comparative studies with a larger number of patients are needed to investigate these findings.

Materials and Method

This was a national, retrospective, cohort study using data extracted from the Système National des Données de Santé, a national healthcare database in France. SNDS). This data set enlisted all recipients covered by the health care coverage systems and gathered a few information: the dates of care and costs repaid by the health care coverage and those paid by the patients; information on emergency clinic stays, including clinical data; the characteristics of the patients (age, sex, residence, long-term illness (ALD30), membership in Universal Health Coverage (Couverture Maladie Universelle, CMU), and, if applicable, the date of death); and information on medical deaths. The following combination of codes was used to identify each and every patient who underwent surgery in 2012 and 2013 for newly diagnosed breast cancer: CCAM, or the Common Classification of Medical Acts, is used for the surgical procedure, and ICD-10 is used for the primary diagnosis that goes along with it. Supplemental Material 1 contains descriptions and ICD codes for the variables used in this study. The study did not include patients with metastatic or recurrent BC. By looking at the time between diagnosis and surgery and scanning a two-year period before surgery, recurrence was found.

Homeopathy not entirely set in stone by recognizing the quantity of apportioning medicines. This data is accessible in the between system utilization information store (datamart de fulfillment between régime, DCIR), which aggregates generally individual information of health care coverage recipients utilized for epidemiological examinations. Progressive times of 180 days were thought of. The work and results were evaluated north of a 180-day time frame and over the main period following the piece. The primary year of follow-up was recognized in view of the presence of radiotherapy or potentially chemotherapy. The differentiation of the primary year was legitimate by the span of the normal arrangement of progressive medicines for BC after mastectomy (chemotherapy and radiotherapy) before the inception of long haul chemical treatment [5-7]. This qualification is brought up in a public malignant growth organization (Institut Public du Disease, INCa) report about the takeover cut-off time of BC, from conclusion to the furthest limit of radiotherapy.

The subsequent class included drugs recommended for the treatment of uneasiness, wretchedness, and dozing messes (antidepressants, anxiolytics, antiepileptics that showed productivity in nervousness jumble treatment, antipsychotics, hypnotics other than benzodiazepins, and narcotic antihistaminic anticholinergics). We also looked into disabilities and sick leave that can cause exhaustion, decreased activity, and motivation. We only included women who were working-age (between the ages of 18 and 60) for the analysis of sick leave. Sex, age at surgery, type of surgery, CMU, presence of a referring physician, number of historical mammograms, the French DEPrivation index (FDEP), sick leave history, times of homeopathic treatment dispensing, comorbidities (coronary heart disease, arterial hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), other chronic diseases, history of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders, and history of cancer other than BC) were all descriptive variables [8]. A Poisson mixed model with random effects was used to analyze the patients' use of medications for the treatment of anxiety and depression or palliative SEs for cancer treatments. A linear mixed model was used for the analysis of sick leave. A logistic model was used in multivariate analysis to find factors that predicted whether or not homeopathy would be used as supportive care. An alpha risk of 5% was used in all analyses.

Discussion

The HRQOL of non-metastatic BC patients treated with homeopathy and conventional medicine in supportive oncology care improved significantly when compared to patients treated with conventional medicine alone. Supportive care is defined as the medical and specific treatment-related care and support that are provided to patients with serious illnesses. Their objective is to improve patients' quality of life through physical, psychological, and social plans. They incorporate a large number of treatments (drugs, entrancing, actual work, kneads, and so on.) that take into account the disease's effects, psychological and emotional effects, and SEs associated with cancer treatments. Patients are aware that homeopathy is a complementary therapy that will help them to better support specific treatments and the psychological consequences of cancer. It is important for physicians to identify the needs of their patients and include supportive care in the care pathway when requested [9-10]. Patients are increasingly willing to use alternative drugs, especially to palliate the adverse effects of conventional treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or hormonotherapy.

In our study, the use of homeopathy was associated with a decrease in the medications administered to palliate SEs of cancer treatments during the first and second semesters after surgery, particularly antiemetics, corticosteroids, immunostimulants, and antidiarrheals. In several studies, the primary reason for using complementary medicine, including homeopathy, was to reduce adverse reactions to cancer treatments.25 In patients with BC, SEs play a major role in the decline in QOL. It's possible that patients with BC will be more likely to use homeopathy in the two semesters following surgery performed with homeopathy. By and by, there was no distinction in the utilization of prescriptions recommended for tension, misery, as well as rest problems between the gatherings.

Conclusion

Homeopathy is increasingly being used on BC patient’s right after diagnosis. After surgery, these uses continued and appeared to help patients better tolerate the side effects of cancer treatments. This is, to our knowledge, the first study to use the French national healthcare database to evaluate patients' quality of life. Our findings need to be supported by additional research, but homeopathy seems to be a good way to reduce SEs in cancer treatment. Oncologists, homeopaths, and patients must communicate more effectively in order to improve QOL.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declared that there is no conflict of interest

Acknowledgment

None

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