Use of GoFundMe® to crowdfund complementary and alternative medicine treatments for cancer

Sikai Song, Andrew J. Cohen, Hansen Lui, Nnenaya A. Mmonu, Hartley Brody, German Patino, Aron Liaw, Christi Butler, Kirkpatrick B. Fergus, Jorge Mena, Austin Lee, Jeremy Weiser, Kelly Johnson, Benjamin N. Breyer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is common amongst cancer patients. However, there is growing concern about its safety and efficacy. Online crowdfunding campaigns represent a unique avenue to understand the cancer patient’s perspective for using CAM or declining conventional cancer therapy (CCT). Methods: Five hundred GoFundMe campaigns from 2012 to 2019 detailing financial need for cancer treatment were randomly selected and reviewed for endorsement of CAM use, reasons for using CAM, and reasons for declining CCT. Descriptive statistics were used to compare patient and campaign characteristics between 250 CAM users and 250 non-CAM users. Results: Compared to non-CAM users, CAM users were more likely to be female (70% vs. 54%, p < 0.01), to report more stage IV cancer (54% vs. 12%, p < 0.01), and to have a history of delayed, missed, or misdiagnosis (10% vs. 4%, p < 0.01). Reasons for using CAM include endorsing curative/therapeutic effects 212 (85%), pain/stress reduction 137 (55%), and dissatisfaction with current or past medical treatment options 105 (42%). 87 (35%) CAM users that declined CCT reported that they wanted to try to fight off cancer using CAM first 57 (61%), that CCT was too “toxic” to the body 39 (42%), and cancer was already too advanced, so that CCT would be futile or too aggressive 25 (27%). Conclusion: Cancer patients on GoFundMe using CAM highly value quality of life, comfort, and autonomy. Physicians should educate themselves on CAM to set realistic expectations and provide comprehensive counseling of the risks and benefits of CAM usage to patients who choose to use CAM to either augment or completely replace CCT.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1857-1865
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology
Volume146
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2020

Keywords

  • Cancer treatment
  • Complementary and alternative medicine
  • Crowdfunding
  • Patient perspective
  • Social media

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Use of GoFundMe® to crowdfund complementary and alternative medicine treatments for cancer'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this