#2001 Disclosure Patterns for Unconventional Medical Therapy Use in Breast Cancer Patients: Standard History Vs. Directed Questioning HA Jones, A DeNittis, S Hahn, JM Metz Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; West Jersey Cancer Center, Voorhees, NJ Purpose: Questionnaire studies have suggested 9-64% of cancer patients use UMT as part of their therapeutic plan with an estimated 72% of users not disclosing information to their physicians. There may be interactions between conventional cancer treatments and UMT. There is a clear need to identify these patients efficiently in a clinical setting. The objective of this study is to explore disclosure patterns of breast cancer patients using directed questions vs standard questioning. Material and Methods:A prospective study of 389 consecutive patients presenting to the Department of Radiation Oncology for initial consultation. The breast cancer population mad up 18% of the total study population with an average age of 55 (range 22-82). Patients were asked about prescription and OTC medical utilitzation Then patients were asked an explicit set of directed questions about UMT use. Results: Of the 68 breast cancer patients, 49% (33/68) used UMT. Standard history revealed 27% (9/33) of UMT use. Directed questioning revealed an additional 73% (24/33) of UMT use in study population (p=.001). UMT users were younger than non-users with an average age of 52 vs. 58 (p=.046). Patients who used daily multivitamins were more likely to use UMT vs. Patients who did not take a daily multivitamin, 61% vs. 39% (p=0.008). There was no significant difference between UMT users and non-users in race, stage, or histological subtypes. Of UMT users, 64% used megavitamins, 40% used herbal remedies, 9% used meditation or guided imagery, and 40% used non-herbal supplements. Among UMT users 64% used 2 or more types of UMT. Conclusion: UMT use is prevalent among breast cancer patients. It is important to determine utilization, as UMT can potentially confound conventional cancer treatments and/or cause significant side effects. Patients should be questioned carefully regarding UMT use during the initial interview. The addition of directed questioning to standard H&P significantly increases the ability to identify patients utilizing UMT. Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.