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Rojas Rojas T, Bourdy G, Ruiz E, Cerapio JP, Pineau P, Gardon J, Doimi F, Deparis X, Deharo E, Bertani S. Herbal Medicine Practices of Patients With Liver Cancer in Peru: A Comprehensive Study Toward Integrative Cancer Management. Integr Cancer Ther 2016; 17:52-64. [PMID: 28088871 PMCID: PMC5950939 DOI: 10.1177/1534735416681642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: The highest burden of liver cancer occurs in developing
countries, where the use of herbal medicine (HM) is still widespread. Despite
this trend, few studies have been conducted to report HM practices of patients
with a hepatic tumor in the developing world. Hence, this study aimed to
document the use of HM among patients with liver cancer in Peru. Study
Design and Methods: A comparative behavioral epidemiological survey
was conducted among liver cancer patients attending the National Cancer
Institute of Peru. Information was obtained by direct interviews based on a
semistructured questionnaire. The use of HM in Peruvian liver cancer patients
was reported, first, regarding general consumption prior to the onset of
disease, and second, after the appearance of symptoms that patients would relate
to their tumor. In parallel, general consumption of HM in noncancerous people
was assessed as a comparative figure. A correspondence analysis was performed to
reveal potential associations between the symptoms of cancer and the specific
use of HM. Results: Eighty-eight patients and 117 noncancerous
individuals participated in the survey. Overall, 68.3% of the people interviewed
claimed to use HM on a regular basis for general health preservation.
Furthermore, 56.8% of the patients turned to plants first to treat the disorders
for which they later came to the cancer care center. When compared with the
number of plant species used routinely (n = 78), a selection of plants was made
by patients in response to the symptoms of cancer (n = 46). At least 2 plant
species, Aloe vera and Morinda citrifolia,
were significantly associated with the treatment of liver cancer–related
symptoms in the patient group. Conclusions: The present study is
the first survey on the HM practices of patients with liver cancer in Latin
America and, more broadly, in the developing world. Our findings confirm that HM
remains one of the principal primary health care resources in Peru, even for a
severe disease like liver cancer. These traditional, complementary and
alternative medicine practices should be taken into consideration in Peruvian
health programs aiming to educate the population in cancer prevention and
treatment, as well as integrative cancer management.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Eloy Ruiz
- 3 Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas, Lima, Peru
| | - Juan-Pablo Cerapio
- 4 Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Pascal Pineau
- 5 Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,6 INSERM, U 993, Paris, France
| | - Jacques Gardon
- 7 Université de Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, UMR 5569, Montpellier, France
| | - Franco Doimi
- 3 Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas, Lima, Peru
| | - Xavier Deparis
- 1 Aix-Marseille Université, IRD, INSERM, UMR 912, Marseille, France
| | - Eric Deharo
- 2 Université de Toulouse, IRD, UPS, UMR 152, Toulouse, France
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