| Summary: | Complementary therapy (CT) use by women with breast cancer is increasing in popularity.
However, informed decisions about CT use are difficult for women due to limited and
conflicting sources of information in the accessible lay literature, and lack of knowledge by
health care professionals. The purpose of this grounded theory study was to describe the
process by which women with breast cancer make decisions about CTs, including the
integration of CTs into orthodox cancer treatment plans.
Open-ended interviews were conducted with 16 women receiving orthodox cancer
treatment, from across the breast cancer trajectory, from a variety of cultural groups, and who
used a wide range of CTs. Analysis of the interviews involved identification of three
interconnected phases of the CT decision-making process: 1) Getting Something in Place:
Covering all the Bases, 2) Hand-picking CTs which Fit: Getting a Personalized Regimen in
place, and 3) Living with the Security of CTs: Fine-Tuning a Regimen to Live With. All of
these phases occurred within the breast cancer trajectory, with the first phase initiated at the
time of diagnosis. Phase two usually did not begin until after surgery and lasted throughout
orthodox treatment and beyond. The third phase generally began sometime after the completion
of orthodox treatment, lasting perhaps for the remainder of one's lifetime. However, when a
recurrence of breast cancer occurred, or a shift from a curative to palliative intent, women
returned to the second phase, modifying their existing CT regimen.
The use of CTs was identified as an important means by which to regain control and
maintain hope. Relationships with health care professionals were found to be highly influential,
both positively and negatively, in the CT decision-making process.
The process described in this study provides a beginning understanding of how women
with breast cancer make decisions about CT use. Interventions to support CT decision-making
were outlined which help women to maintain control and foster hope. The findings of this
study will help nurses and other health care professionals in assisting women to make informed decisions about their health, including the safe integration of CTs into their cancer treatment
plan.
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