A patient with Stage IIB squamous cell cancer of the cervix presented 10 days into her primary radiation therapy with neutropenic fever and diarrhea requiring hospitalization and delay in treatment. The patient's history revealed extensive use of alternative therapies including potential toxic botanicals. This case raises the possibility that a patient's use of alternative therapies may have caused toxicity and delayed primary therapy. Gynecologic oncology patients may be using alternative therapies justifying the need for incorporating this classification into the historical exam.
Copyright 2000 Academic Press.