None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to look at the feasibility of acupuncture for treating 'symptom cluster' (such as pain, sleep disturbance, and fatigue) in patients who have had breast cancer treatment. Who is it for? You may be eligible for this study if you are a female aged 18 years or above, and have completed your treatment for breast cancer. Study details All participants will be treated with 8 sessions of acupncture over 6 weeks at the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse. Participants will be asked to attend all treatment sessions and complete a set of questionnaires at the start, the completion and 2 weeks after the completion of the trial. It is hoped that this research will reveal if acupuncture is appropriate for improving the symptoms experienced after breast cancer treatment, thus improving the quality of life of patients.
Interventions
This is a single arm acupuncture intervention.
Therapist: Provided by acupuncturists registered with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), who are trained in oncology acupuncture with experience of at least 5 years.
Duration/frequency: Total of 8 treatments over 6 weeks will be provided. Each session will be 40 minutes, with the first consult 60 minutes. The first 2 weeks will be twice a week intervention then once a week for the rest of the 4 weeks.
Equipment: Vinco acupunc
This is a single arm acupuncture intervention. Therapist: Provided by acupuncturists registered with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), who are trained in oncology acupuncture with experience of at least 5 years. Duration/frequency: Total of 8 treatments over 6 weeks will be provided. Each session will be 40 minutes, with the first consult 60 minutes. The first 2 weeks will be twice a week intervention then once a week for the rest of the 4 weeks. Equipment: Vinco acupuncture needles will be used. Where appropriate, the electro-acupuncture machine (Model ES160 Ito Co Ltd) will be used. Location: all intervention will be performed at the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse as face to face interventions. Protocol: all intervention will be personalized based on the Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis made by the clinician.
Sponsors
Chris O'Brien Lifehouse
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Primary purpose
Treatment
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
- breast cancer diagnosis - completed cancer modifying treatment - female - moderate to severe symptom burden of sleep disturbance, fatigue, pain and neuropathy. Moderate to severe symptom burden is defined as scoring greater than or equal to 4 on the ESAS-17 for two or more of these items.
Exclusion criteria
- Recurrent or metastatic cancer - Pregnancy - Received acupuncture in the last 2 weeks - Currently Receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy - Under 18 years old - Persisting thrombocytopenia (Platelets < or = 80) - Known coagulopathy - Demand Pacemaker in situ: can participate but excluded from receiving electroacupuncture
Outcome results
None listed