"On average, [Women who discovered a lump] took 8.7 weeks to inform the family and 17.2 weeks to first physician visit. Fifty three percent delayed seeking medical advice. Common reasons were;
antecedent use of complimentary/alternative therapies (34%), lack of significance attached to the lump (23%), fear of surgery (22%), conflicting personal commitments (7%), fear of cancer (5%), and others (8%).
Twenty nine percent practiced CAM before visiting any physician.
Common methods used were
homeopathy (70%),
spiritual therapy (15%) and
Ayurvedic medicine (13%).
CAM use was associated with delay in seeking medical advice (OR: 5.6; 95% CI: 2.3, 13.3) and presentation at an advanced stage of disease (OR: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.01, 4.6). Patients who delayed seeking medical advice more often had positive axillary nodes and stage III/IV disease. Breast cancer patients in Pakistan frequently (53%) delay seeking medical advice. Antecedent practice of CAM is widespread and a common underlying reason. The delay results in significant worsening of the disease process."
tl;dr - people delay medical treatment, and part of the reason is that they try alternative treatments, and only go to the doctor when the problem gets worse. This worsens the progress of their disease.
This is why alternative medicine is bad. Because it kills people. Imagine how mad you would be if someone you loved delayed treatment for a real problem because they were following advice to try alternative, "natural" medicine they'd received from a friend.
We are responsible for the outcomes of what we do, not just the sentiment behind it.