European Journal of Integrative Medicine | 2019
Supportive effect of Viscum album L. extracts on the sense of coherence in non-metastasized breast cancer patients
Abstract
Abstract Introduction Viscum album L. extracts (VA) are frequently used in integrative oncology to enhance health-related quality of life. As a central aspect of well-being is associated with feeling warm or cold the internal coherence scale (ICS) questionnaire including the thermo coherence measurement was utilized. Methods A prospective observational longitudinal cohort study was conducted, using data from the Network Oncology clinical registry. Primary non-metastasized breast cancer patients diagnosed in a German certified breast cancer center and treated either with standard anti-hormonal therapy alone (control) or in combination with VA-extracts (VA-group) were included. At first diagnosis, 6 months and 12 months later, the ICS-questionnaire was administered and analysed. Results In total, 72 patients (56 control and 16 VA-patients; median age 62.1 years, IQR: 52.3–70.6) were evaluated. 6 months after first diagnosis, only for the VA-group a considerable increase of the total ICS and particularly the thermo coherence score was observed (p (d) Conclusions Our findings suggest that concomitant VA is positively associated with an impact on the thermo coherence of breast cancer patients and VA-applications might be an option to harmonize discomfort symptoms during anti-cancer therapy. However, results should be interpreted with caution in light of the study´s observational character.