Prayer as a Possible Adjuvant Treatment for Breast Cancer

Prayer as a Possible Adjuvant Treatment for Breast Cancer - A Randomized Partially Blinded Controlled Clinical Trial Evaluating the Effect of Prayer on Humoral and Biochemical Parameters in Stage I-IV Breast Cancer

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00519545

Enrollment

Registered

2007-08-22

Start date

2006-03-31

Completion date

2012-01-31

Last updated

2012-01-24

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Breast Neoplasms

Keywords

breast, cancer, stage, one, four

Brief summary

The goal of this study is to help determine the biochemical mechanisms underlying previously demonstrated health benefits of prayer, and to track humoral changes in various prayer activities.

Detailed description

The purpose of this pilot study is to investigate certain biological mechanisms that may underlie the beneficial effects seen among cancer patients who pray. It will evaluate the effect of prayer on humoral (including biochemical/physiological inflammatory/immune) parameters, monitor changes in cancer related biomarkers and evaluate the effect of prayer on blood pressure, quality of life, health and dietary habits in relation to prayer activities, using validated questionnaires.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALPrayer

Data collection on physiological biomarkers

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

SINGLE (Subject)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

FEMALE

Age

21 Years to 80 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Primary histological diagnosis of Stage I-IV breast cancer. 2. Initial diagnosis of breast cancer within 5 year of study enrollment. 3. Not currently receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Hormone therapy is allowed. 4. Life expectancy of at least 12 months. 5. ECOG performance status of 0, 1, or 2. 6. Willing to sign informed consent indicating that they are aware of the investigational nature of the study and the randomized study design. 7. Willing to comply with monthly follow-up phone calls. 8. Willing to complete questionnaires at regular oncology clinic visits. 9. Able to read write & understand English.

Exclusion criteria

1. Concurrent treatment with chemotherapy or radiation therapy 2. Less than 3 months since last dose of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. 3. Breast cancer diagnosis more than 5 years prior to study enrollment 4. Less than 21 or greater than to 80 years old. 5. Life threatening or severe concurrent non-malignant conditions. 6. Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. 7. Severe heart disease. 8. Severe liver disease. Severe lung disease. 9. History of smoking within 5 years of study enrollment. 10. Psychological or psychiatric disorder that would interfere with study compliance. 11. History of missed appointments or poor medical compliance. 12. Inability to understand instructions on how to complete a questionnaire. 13. No access to a phone.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
A. Evaluate the effect of prayer on humoral (including biochemical/physiological inflammatory/immune) parameters approximately every three months at the subjects routine oncology visit.	2 years
B. Monitor changes in cancer- related biomarkers, and evaluate these changes in relation to the participants' prayer activities as recorded since the previous oncology visit.	2 years
C. Evaluate the effect of prayer on blood pressure, quality of life, health and dietary habits in relation to prayer activities, using validated questionnaires.	2 years

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026