Predictors of the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by women at high risk for breast cancer.

Background: Few data exist regarding the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by unaffected women at high risk of breast cancer.
Methods: Self-reported CAM use by women from multiple-case breast cancer families was obtained by questionnaire. Factors associated with CAM use were assessed using multiple logistic regression.
Results: Of 892 women, 55% (n=489) used CAM, 6% (n=53) specifically to prevent cancer. CAM use was independently associated with tertiary education level (OR 2.56, 95% CI 1.83-3.58, p<0.001), greater physical activity (OR 1.05 per hour of physical activity/week, 95% CI 1.00-1.10, p=0.049), greater anxiety (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.16-3.16, p=0.01), not currently smoking (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.42-0.97, p=0.037) and lower perceived BC risk (OR 0.82 per 20 percentage points, 95% CI 0.72-0.94, p=0.005).
Conclusions: The majority of high-risk women use CAM, but mostly for reasons other than cancer prevention. Most predictors of CAM use are consistent with the limited literature for women at high risk for cancer.