In this literature review, we aimed to determine the prevalence, frequency of usage and types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices and characteristics in cancer patients who were participated in research studies in Turkey. We have reached the 14 articles relevant to the subject which were published from 2001 to 2007, and 7 abstracts were published in National Congresses’ abstract books in Turkey. Total number of subjects was 5252 (5069 adult and 183 pediatric) cancer patients. Data acquisition methods were face-to-face interview and/or using a questionnaire. Frequency of CAM use was between 22.1% and 84.1%. Mostly used type of CAM was herbal preparations (mostly “stinging nettle/Urtica dioica”); factors affecting use of CAM was gender; duration of disease, end stage disease, socioeconomic status and educational level. In studies those indicated the reasons for using CAM; most of the patients were stated that in order to do everything possible to fight with the disease, and belief of usefulness. Most of the patients use these therapies due to recommendation of family members, friends and other patients in the clinic and generally they have started to use herbal therapy together with medical therapy after diagnosis of cancer.
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