Almost two-third of all cancer patients will receive radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is the use of ionizing radiation to treat cancer patients with radical or palliative intent. Radical radiation therapy is delivered with the intent to produce a high rate of local tumour control with acceptable normal tissue complications. It could be given as a single modality or combined with other treatment modalities. Palliative radiation therapy is delivered over a shorter period of time and all the dose may be given in a single fraction. It is used to improved the survival rate or improve the quality of life of cancer patients with advanced disease. About 40% to 50% of patients referred to oncology clinics are managed with palliative radiation therapy. Indications for palliative radiation therapy include brain metastases, bone metastases, superior vena cava syndrome, spinal cord compression and bleeding associated with cervical cancer, head and neck, stomach and bladder. Complementary medicine use among cancer patients varies according to geographical areas, disease diagnosis and gender. Complementary medicine is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices and products that are used together with conventional practices. Most cancer patients use complementary medicine with the hope to boost the immune system, control side effects related to the disease and conventional treatment, and relieve pain.

Complementary Medicine Use among Cancer Patients Undergoing Palliative Radiation Therapy

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