Understanding The Risks: Chemo May Be Hard, But Breast Cancer Patients Relying on Non-Traditional Treatments Face Higher Risk of Death, Study Finds

“They are associated with the highest five-year survival rates,” Dr. Amy Comander, Director of Breast Oncology and Cancer Survivorship at the Mass General Cancer Center in Waltham, tells SurvivorNet.

The new study reinforces this by comparing proven therapies with alternative or complementary approaches, such as dietary supplements, herbal supplements, and homeopathic drugs, that lack scientific evidence.

“Use of complementary and alternative medicine to treat breast cancer, instead of standard of care treatment, is associated with a significant decrease in overall survival,” Dr. Comander adds.

She encourages patients to “seek out a medical team that encourages open dialogue, allowing you to voice concerns freely and choose the best path forward with proven, evidence-based treatments.”

In a review of more than 2 million breast cancer patients, 97% received standard treatment, which may include chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, and surgery or a combination of each.

Fewer than 1% of the study’s patients relied on alternative or complementary therapies alone or alongside traditional care.

The findings were stark because the researchers say that patients who used alternative or complementary therapy instead of standard treatment had a much higher risk of death, which was similar to those who received no treatment at all.

The study also found that patients who mixed alternative therapies with standard care were less likely to receive recommended key treatments, such as hormone therapy or radiation, which may reduce their chances of successful outcomes.

The Study Highlights The Difference Between Alternative and ‘Integrative’ Oncology

A key caveat is that the study’s complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) “CAM alone” group reflects patients who completely skipped conventional cancer treatment, which is not integrative oncology, Dr. Ting Bao, co-director of the Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies and Healthy Living at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, tells SurvivorNet.

The CAM‑only and CAM‑plus‑traditional groups accounted for less than 0.1% of the dataset, Dr. Bao adds, far below the real‑world rate of integrative therapy use, suggesting the study failed to capture how patients actually use these approaches.

The term “CAM” is also too broad and lumps together very different practices, from acupuncture to potentially unsafe supplements, making it impossible to draw conclusions about integrative care, Dr. Bao adds.

Ultimately, she says the study highlights the danger of abandoning evidence‑based treatment, not the impact of integrative oncology. She encourages patients to look closely at what a study is truly measuring and whether it applies to their own situation, and to rely on sources that clearly explain both the evidence and its limitations.

“Conventional treatment — surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy — has decades of evidence behind it,” Dr. Bao explains. “The discomfort of side effects is real, and the desire to find something gentler or more affordable is completely understandable. But this study shows clearly that forgoing conventional care in favor of unproven alternatives is associated with significantly worse survival.”

“The goal of integrative oncology is not to replace conventional treatment — it is to support patients through it, managing side effects and improving quality of life using evidence-informed approaches used alongside standard care,” Dr. Bao adds.

The researchers pointed to several reasons patients may want to forego traditional cancer treatment, including religious or spiritual beliefs and distrust in the healthcare system, but Dr. Bao notes that fears about the impact of cancer treatment should be worked through alongside a patient care team.

“A diagnosis is not a moment to navigate alone or to rely on unfiltered internet research. The most important step is an honest conversation with your physician​​​​​​​​,” Dr. Bao adds.

What is Integrative or Complementary Medicine?

Integrative medicine refers to a range of holistic practices, like nutrition, yoga, and acupuncture, paired with standard, approved medical treatments.

“I am a strong proponent of complementary therapies that support patients during and after treatment, such as acupuncture, mindfulness, and massage, among others,” Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky, head of Breast Medical Oncology at Valley Health System, tells SurvivorNet. “There are supplements that can be beneficial in certain situations, such as Vitamin D, tart cherry for joint pain, and creatine, among others.”

“Always talk to your doctor before taking any supplements to make sure it is right for you,” Dr. Teplinsky adds.

RELATED: ‘Hard to Figure Out What’s True’ Black Americans More Likely to Trust Black Doctors, But Undoing Generations of Mistrust in Healthcare Will Take More

The best version of care is “one in which we combine evidence-based treatment with thoughtful, safe, supportive strategies that help people get through treatment and beyond it,” Dr. Teplinsky says.

Likewise, Dr. Comander stresses that it’s critical that these integrative approaches be used “alongside, rather than instead of, standard treatments like surgery, radiation treatment, or chemotherapy.”

Understanding Treatment ‘Standards’

Standard of care (also called standard therapy, best practice, and standard medical care) is treatment for a cancer or disease that medical experts widely accept as a proper treatment, according to the National Cancer Institute.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), which comprises 28 leading cancer centers, establishes evidence-based and consensus-driven guidelines for cancer treatment.

WATCH: The Difference Between Integrative Medicine and “Alternative Medicine”

Traditional treatment methods for cancer may include surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation regimens. Understandably, these treatments are often not easy to deal with as they can cause serious side effects, from hair loss to diarrhea.

Many physicians support patients taking measures, which may include integrative therapy methods, to help cope with these side effects. The key takeaway is that it’s critical to discuss those measures with your care team.

Coping With Side Effects: Breast Cancer Surgery

Dr. Ann Partridge, an oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, says there are a number of factors to weigh when considering a mastectomy (removal of one or both breasts), chief among them is whether breast-conserving surgery (or lumpectomy) is possible. Your doctor will look at the size and features of your tumor as well as your family history in order to make a recommendation.

“When I talk to a woman who comes to me and she has breast cancer, I evaluate what the standard options for treatment for her are, which typically include cutting out the cancer, which is either a lumpectomy if you can get it all with just a little scooping around of the area that’s abnormal, or a mastectomy for some women meaning taking the full breast because sometimes these lesions can be very extensive in the breast,” Dr. Partridge explains.

For women who undergo mastectomy, the process can be daunting, painful, and include many complex decisions, like whether to undergo breast reconstruction.

The reconstruction process can happen at the time of the surgery to remove the breast or later on in the case of implants. Some women opt for no reconstruction, but decide later on that they want reconstruction to restore a sense of self, or simply get back to the way they used to look.

WATCH: Breast Reconstruction: Regaining Your Sense of Self

Immediate reconstruction can produce better results than delayed reconstruction, resulting in fewer surgeries. However, it may require a more extended initial hospitalization and recovery time. This long surgery may also have a higher risk of complications, such as infections, than two separate surgeries.

“Delayed reconstruction has fewer complications than immediate reconstruction,” Dr. Terry Myckatyn, a plastic surgeon specializing in breast reconstruction, previously told SurvivorNet.

When implants are used, the procedure can take two to three hours (so the total surgery time would be around five hours). During reconstruction, one can also take one’s own tissue (usually from the belly area) and transfer it to the breast area.

After breast cancer surgery, women diagnosed with  breast cancer may also need chemotherapy, radiation, or hormone therapy, depending on their cancer stage and type.

Dr. Myckatyn emphasizes that the process is collaborative: “It’s a shared decision-making process between the patient and the physician. The patient needs to advocate for herself and make her goals clear. The physician needs to provide clear, logical, evidence-based explanations for their recommendations.”

WATCH: How some women may keep their breast size and shape in cancer surgery.

After breast cancer surgery, patients often struggle with the changes to their bodies that others can see, whether those changes are temporary or permanent. However, survivors also struggle with changes that may not be as obvious — such as infertility — and these can create body image issues and make survivors feel vulnerable.

One way to prepare yourself for possible body changes during cancer treatment is to understand that changes are possible but also, frequently, temporary. This can also help build up your self-confidence.

Coping With Side Effects: Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is an effective tool for oncologists to help treat cancer by stopping cancerous cells from growing, dividing, and spreading to other organs. Chemo works by traveling through the bloodstream, killing cancerous cells. However, healthy cells are also impacted in the process, leading to side effects.

Patients almost universally experience fatigue, often alongside gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea. Doctors have many effective medications to combat chemo-induced nausea and other common issues.

WATCH: Breast Cancer Dialogues: Optimism For The Future & Starting The Next Chapter

“Neuropathy is probably one of the most challenging side effects,” says Dr. Renata Urban, a gynecologic oncologist at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Neuropathy results from damage to the peripheral nerves. It usually resolves after chemotherapy treatment, but sometimes symptoms can persist. While it’s typically characterized by numbness or a pins-and-needles sensation in the hands and feet, neuropathy can have several different symptoms, including:

• Weakness in the hands or feet
• Stabbing or burning pain in the hands or feet
• Difficulty gripping, such as when holding a fork
• Difficulty with fine motor skills, such as writing or buttoning a shirt

Once a patient begins experiencing the symptoms of neuropathy, they’ll be carefully monitored to make sure it doesn’t get worse. Before each chemotherapy infusion, the attending oncologist will assess whether the symptoms have progressed. If symptoms worsen, they may adjust the dose or delay treatment. They may also try switching to another chemotherapy drug.

There are also some general, lifestyle steps doctors tend to recommend to reduce the side effects associated with chemotherapy. These recommendations include:

• Exercise: While it may be counterintuitive, physical activity can help alleviate side effects, especially fatigue. “Physical activity can not only improve quality of life but may also have beneficial impacts on cancer outcomes,” Dr. Urban says.
• Eat well: Even though nausea may interfere with your ability to eat a healthy diet, it’s essential to ensure you’re eating appropriately, getting enough protein, and not losing weight. Not only will nourishing your body support your recovery, but it may also help you feel more energized.
• Sleep: Want to mitigate fatigue? Be sure to maintain your regular sleep-wake cycle while on treatment. Sticking to a set sleep schedule helps reduce fatigue by ensuring enough hours for your body to heal and restore itself each night. It may also help you recover more quickly by keeping energy levels high during the daytime.

Coping With Side Effects: Radiation

Radiation therapy, or using high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells, is a common follow-up to breast cancer surgery, especially for patients who choose a lumpectomy over a mastectomy. Its goal is to reduce the risk of recurrence by targeting any lingering cancer cells in the breast or surrounding tissue.

While effective, radiation can come with side effects, both immediate and delayed.

Common symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Swelling
• Scar tissue
• Shortness of breath

RELATED: Cancer Patients With Dark Skin At Increased Risk of Painful Radiation Side Effects, New Research Says

One of the more serious concerns involves the heart, which can unintentionally absorb radiation due to its proximity to the breast.

“When the radiation is delivered, unfortunately, the heart happens to be somewhere very near to where they have their breast cancer, and it becomes an innocent bystander absorbing some of the radiation,” Dr. Jean-Bernard Durand previously told SurvivorNet.

“We make it a point to see them on a regular basis so that we can catch these things very early and treat them,” he added.

Similar to other cancer treatments, side effects from radiation can sometimes be managed with lifestyle interventions or adjustments to the treatment plan.

To better prepare for upcoming appointments and conversations with your care team, SurvivorNet recommends exploring its proprietary AI-tool “My Health Questions.” The powerful resource delivers structured responses grounded in clinical guidelines and medically reviewed research to help people better understand their treatment options and feel more confident navigating care.

Questions To Ask Your Doctor

• Are there any complementary/integrative techniques you recommend I use alongside my breast cancer treatment?
• Are there techniques that can help with fatigue, pain, and other common side effects?
• Are there any supplements I should stay away from?
• Will my insurance cover complementary/integrative medicine techniques?

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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