# Patient-reported outcomes regarding the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in BCR::ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasias

## TL;DR

This study explores how often patients with certain blood cancers use complementary and alternative medicine, finding higher use among women and those with longer disease duration.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into CAM use patterns specific to BCR::ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms patients.

## Key findings

- CAM use was reported by 59.6% of female patients compared to 41.7% of male patients.
- Patients with longer disease duration showed higher CAM use rates.
- Nutritional supplements like vitamin D and multivitamins were the most commonly used CAM methods.

## Abstract

BCR::ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms are chronic diseases characterized by high symptom burden due to systemic inflammation. Treatment objectives include cytoreduction and alleviation of symptoms. Besides standard therapies, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods are frequently used and requested by cancer patients. Aim of this study was to assess the interest in and use of CAM by patients diagnosed with MPN.

This study was conducted as a patient-reported, paper-and-pencil-based questionnaire.

166 patients with MPN were included, 72 (43.4%) male and 94 (56.6%) female. Median age was 65.0 years. Diagnoses included ET 66/166 (39.8%), PV 40/166 (24.1%), MF 51/166 (30.7%) MPN-U 8/166 (4.8%) and SM-AHN 1/166 (0.6%). Overall, more frequent use of CAM was documented in females (59.6%) compared to males (41.7%), p = 0.022. A significant proportion of patients reported on the ingestion of nutritional supplements: 44/163 (26.5%) vitamin D, 26/165 (15.7%) vitamin C, 19/165 (11.4%) zinc, 13/165 (7.8%) secondary plant products, 12/165 (7.2%) selenium, and 19/165 (11.4%) multivitamin preparations. Regarding other CAM-related measures: 5/164 (3.0%) used amygdalin, 4/164 (2.4%) mistletoe therapy, 11/165 (6.6%) acupuncture, 6/165 (3.6%) homeopathy, 11/165 (6.6%) yoga, 10/165 (6%) reported receiving spiritual support, while 3/165 (1.8%) used the services of “healers”. A higher rate of CAM use was found among patients with longer disease duration.

Use of CAM was recorded in the majority of patients with MPN. Higher use of CAM-related measures was reported by women and patients with longer disease duration. Patients should be regularly consulted about the use of CAM, its risks should be considered and pointed out, and safe methods should be recommended.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00432-025-06421-5.