Implementation of an Integrative Oncological Concept in the Daily Care of a German Certified Breast Cancer Center.
Complement Med Res
; 25(2): 85-91, 2018.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29510405
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
In recent decades the concept of integrative medicine has attracted growing interest in patients and professionals. At the Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Havelhöhe (GKH), a hospital specialized in anthroposophical medicine, a breast cancer center (BCC) has been successfully certified for more than 5 years. The objective of the present study was to analyze how integrative strategies were implemented in the daily care of primary breast cancer patients.METHODS:
Clinical, demographic, and follow-up data as well as information on non-pharmacological interventions were analyzed. In addition, BCC quality measures were compared with data of the National Breast Cancer Benchmarking Report 2016.RESULTS:
Between 2011 and 2016, 741 primary breast cancer patients (median age 57.4 years) were treated at the GKH BCC. 91.5% of the patients showed Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) stage 0, I, II, or III and 8.2% were in UICC stage IV. 97% of the patients underwent surgery, 53% radiation, 38% had hormone therapy, and 25% received cytostatic drugs. 96% of the patients received non-pharmacological interventions and 32% received Viscum album L. THERAPY Follow-up was performed in up to 93% of the patients 2 years after first diagnosis. Compared to nationwide benchmarking BCCs, the GKH BCC met the requirements in central items.CONCLUSIONS:
The results of the present study show that integrative therapies offered by the concept of anthroposophical medicine can be implemented in the daily care and treatment of a certified BCC. However, as national guidelines on integrative concepts in oncology are missing, further studies are needed for a systematic evaluation of integrative treatment and care concepts in this field.Key words
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Complementary Medicines:
Medicina_antroposofica
Therapeutic Methods and Therapies TCIM:
Plantas_medicinales
Main subject:
Breast Neoplasms
/
Cancer Care Facilities
/
Integrative Oncology
Type of study:
Guideline
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
En
Journal:
Complement Med Res
Year:
2018
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Germany