Introduction. Complementary and alternative methods (CAM) are therapeutic practices of allopathic medicine. Effectiveness and safety of CAM is a subject to doubt. These methods, used in oncological treatment, are found more and more interesting by patients. Aim. The main aim of the study was to get knowledge about complementary and alternative methods, used by oncological patients during the systemic treatment of neoplasms. Material and methods. The study included 60 oncological patients hospitalized in the period from November 2017 to December 2017 in the Clinic of Gynecological Oncology and in the Clinical Oncology Ward of SPSK No. 2 PUM in Szczecin (Poland). The authors’ own questionnaire was used. Results. The use of CAM methods was confi rmed by nearly 22.8% of respondents. The Mann-Whitney U test showed that patients using CAM were younger than those who did not use complementary and alternative treatment. Nearly 1/3 of respondents consulted their decision with a doctor, before using CAM methods. Conclusions. Age is one of the important factors infl uencing the decision to use CAM as a complementary method in the treatment of neoplasms, especially in younger patients. Education and provision of information by medical staff is insuffi cient, thus patients get their knowledge from unprofessional sources. It is necessary to implement corrective actions aimed at improving the quality of services provided.

Key words: complementary therapies, oncology nursing, neoplasms, patient.