JAMA Netw Open

Does the use of complementary and alternative medicine compromise survival in breast cancer patients?

March 5, 2026

A national cohort study of more than 2.1 million women with breast cancer found that use of complementary or alternative treatments—such as dietary supplements, meditation and yoga, or acupuncture—was rare but associated with significantly lower five‑year survival. Patients who relied solely on nontraditional treatments had a markedly higher adjusted mortality risk compared with those receiving standard therapies (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 3.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.03–4.44). Patients who combined standard care with alternative treatments also had higher mortality (AHR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.22–1.72) and were less likely to receive recommended therapies such as endocrine treatment and radiation.

Clinical takeaway: Ask patients proactively about complementary and alternative medicine use and emphasize that substituting or delaying evidence‑based breast cancer treatments can significantly compromise survival.

Source:

Ayoade OF, et al. (2026, March 2). JAMA Netw Open. Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the Management of Breast Cancer. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41770560/