Comparison of Quality of Life Between Breast Cancer Patients Treated With and Without Adjunctive Traditional Chinese Medicine in Taiwan - Integrative Cancer Therapies Volume 22

Q: What was the main purpose of this study?

To compare the quality of life of breast cancer patients treated with adjunctive traditional Chinese medicine versus those treated without it in Taiwan.

Q: How were participants selected and grouped?

Patients with cancer stages I–III who underwent resection surgery were included and divided into a TCM group and a non-TCM group, using 1:1 matching for participants.

Q: Which instrument was used to measure quality of life, and what were the findings?

The EQ-5D questionnaire measured quality of life. The TCM group had significantly higher EQ-5D scores than the non-TCM group, and regression models showed an adjusted improvement, with larger differences in stages II and III.

Sep 24, 2026

Uploaded by mieayamfan

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Taiwan, and adjunctive traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is used to reduce side effects and discomfort from cancer therapy, yet quality-of-life impacts have been insufficiently assessed. This study compared quality of life in Taiwanese breast cancer patients receiving adjunctive TCM versus those without adjunctive TCM using EQ-5D data from 2018–2019 across 7 hospitals. After 1:1 matching and regression adjustment, the TCM group showed higher overall EQ-5D scores, with stage-stratified benefits in stages II and III.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Comparison of Quality of Life Between Breast Cancer Patients Treated With and Without Adjunctive Traditional Chinese Medicine in Taiwan Integrative Cancer Therapies Volume 22: 1–11 © The Author(s) 2023 Article reuse guidelines: [sagepub.com/journals-permissions](sagepub.com/journals-permissions)[ ](sagepub.com/journals-permissions)[DOI: 10.1177/15347354221150907](DOI: 10.1177/15347354221150907)[ ](DOI: 10.1177/15347354221150907)[journals.sagepub.com/home/ict](journals.sagepub.com/home/ict) Yeong-Ruey Chu, MPH 1, Pei-Tseng Kung, ScD 1,2,3*, Liang-Chih Liu, MD3, Chin-Yao Lin, MD4, Fu Ou-Yang, MD5, Chia-Herng Yue, MD6, Shan-Yu Su, MD3, Ying-Yu Chen, MD3, Wen-Ching Wang, MD7, Hui-Fen Kao, MD8, Wen-Yu Chou, MHA 1, and Wen-Chen Tsai, DrPH 1* Abstract In Taiwan, breast cancer has the highest incidence among all cancers. Although adjunctive traditional Chinese medicine treatment (TCM) have been used to ameliorate the side effects or discomfort caused by cancer treatments, no study has focused on the assessment of the quality of life of patients undergoing adjunctive TCM treatments. This study compared the quality of life between breast cancer patients treated with and without adjunctive TCM. Questionnaires were collected from 7 hospitals with a Chinese medicine clinic in 2018 to 2019. Breast cancer patients who had cancer stages I, II, or III and also underwent resection surgery were included in the study. They were divided into 2 groups: patients receiving cancer treatments with adjunctive traditional Chinese medicine (TCM group) and those receiving cancer treatments without adjunctive traditional Chinese medicine (non-TCM group). A 1:1 matching was used to obtain the study participants. The EQ-5D questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life. Statistical analysis was performed using the t-test and ANOVAto compare the differences between variables. The conditional multiple regression model was applied to explore the factors associated with quality of life in breast cancer patients. A total of 543 participants were surveyed, and 450 participants were included in the study. The EQ-5D score of the TCM group (81.60 ± 11.67) was significantly higher than that of thenon-TCM group (78.80 ± 13.10; P < .05). The results of a conditional multiple regression model showed that the TCM group had a higher (3.45 points) quality of life than non-TCM group (P = .002) after adjusting for other related factors. After stratifying by cancer stage, patients with cancer stages II and III scored 5.58 and 4.35 points higher in the TCM group than did those in the non-TCM group (P < .05). Breast cancer patients undergoing cancer treatment with adjunctive traditional Chinese medicine have a higher quality of life than those treated without adjunctive traditional Chinese medicine. Keywords breast cancer, quality of life, Chinese medicine treatment, adjunctive traditional Chinese medicine, EQ-5D Submitted June 27, 2022; revised November 15, 2022; accepted December 27, 2022 Introduction The World Health Organization estimated that the number of global cancer cases rose from 14 million in 2012 to 24 million in 2035.1 Early detection of cancer and proper treatment can increase its cure rate.2 In Taiwan, from 2014 to 2018, the 5-year relative survival rates of cancer for men and women were 52 .6% and 68 .0%, respectively.3 Most cancers are treated with conventional treatment, and Chinese medicine is mostly used to improve the effect of cancer treatment.4 Chinese herbal medicine can boost the immune system of patients with cancer and reduce pain and discomfort after treatment. Most cancer patients experience 1 China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan 2Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan 3China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan 4Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Taichung, Taiwan 5Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 6Tung’s Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan 7Chi-Mei Medical Center, Ta

FAQs

What was the main purpose of this study?

To compare the quality of life of breast cancer patients treated with adjunctive traditional Chinese medicine versus those treated without it in Taiwan.

How were participants selected and grouped?

Patients with cancer stages I–III who underwent resection surgery were included and divided into a TCM group and a non-TCM group, using 1:1 matching for participants.

Which instrument was used to measure quality of life, and what were the findings?

The EQ-5D questionnaire measured quality of life. The TCM group had significantly higher EQ-5D scores than the non-TCM group, and regression models showed an adjusted improvement, with larger differences in stages II and III.

Sep 24, 2026

Uploaded by mieayamfan