Acupuncture for symptoms management in Korean breast cancer survivors: a prospective pilot study

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 164-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tae-Hun Kim ◽  
Jung Won Kang
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
Symptomatic Treatment ◽  
Common Symptom ◽  
Specific Outcome ◽  
Acupuncture Research

Background: There is an unmet need for effective treatment of the various treatment-related symptoms experienced by breast cancer survivors. These symptoms could be alleviated by acupuncture. Although several lines of evidence in Western countries suggest that acupuncture has a beneficial effect on symptoms in breast cancer survivors, few relevant studies have been conducted in Korean patients. This pilot study assessed the feasibility of acupuncture for a variety of treatment-related symptoms in Korean breast cancer survivors. Method: From October 2015 to March 2016, we recruited patients who had undergone treatment for breast cancer and subsequently reported symptoms, including aromatase inhibitor-related knee pain, vasomotor symptoms, insomnia, sexual dysfunction and post-mastectomy pain in the chest wall or shoulder. The women received 4 weeks of symptom-specific acupuncture followed by a further 4 weeks of follow-up to evaluate the feasibility of acupuncture for this indication, and its impact on common and symptom-specific outcome variables. Results: Eight study participants were recruited over a period of 6 months, six of whom completed the planned acupuncture treatment and follow-up assessments. A total of 78 acupuncture sessions were performed. We found that acupuncture was feasible, with only six minor self-limiting acupuncture-related adverse events. Most of the women felt that they had benefitted from participation in the study. The preliminary analysis indicated improvement in common symptom-specific outcomes. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that acupuncture is feasible, but low recruitment rates should be considered when considering future acupuncture research in Korean breast cancer survivors. Rigorous evaluation of this symptomatic treatment strategy is now needed in the Korean population.

scholarly journals Tailored Sailing Experience to Reduce Psychological Distress and Improve the Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Survivors: A Survey-Based Pilot Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 4406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Mirandola ◽  
Giovanna Franchi ◽  
Alice Maruelli ◽  
Manuela Vinci ◽  
Maria Grazia Muraca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sporting Activities

Background: Growing evidence indicates that physical/sporting activities may improve the health outcomes and quality of life (QoL) of breast cancer (BC) survivors. Since recent reports have suggested that sailing can improve the psychophysical well-being and QoL of people with disabilities, this pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of a tailored sailing experience on the QoL and psychological distress (PD) of BC survivors. Methods: A group of 19 breast cancer survivors, who were attending the Cancer Rehabilitation Center in Florence, were invited to participate in a sailing school and completed a survey based on a structured online questionnaire assessing QoL and PD both on departure (baseline) and one week after returning (follow-up). The survey comprised a first part (i.e., sociodemographic characteristics and the practice of physical/sporting activities at baseline; sailing experience satisfaction at follow-up) and a second part (i.e., Short Form-12 (SF-12), State/Trait-Anxiety Inventory form Y (STAI-Y), distress thermometer questionnaires). A paired Student’s t-test was used to compare the baseline versus follow-up QoL and PD scores. Results: A statistically significant improvement in SF-12 mental component scores and a reduction in both STAI-Y state/trait components and distress thermometer scores were found after the sailing experience. Conclusions: We conclude that sailing practice could be a feasible intervention to increase the psychophysical well-being of BC survivors.

scholarly journals Perspectives of Survivorship Care Plans Among Older Breast Cancer Survivors: A Pilot Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 107327482091720
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Krok-Schoen ◽  
Michelle J. Naughton ◽  
Anne M. Noonan ◽  
Janell Pisegna ◽  
Jennifer DeSalvo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Survivorship Care Plan ◽  
Survivorship Care ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Term Care

The Commission on Cancer’s standard 3.3 represents a paradigm shift in the care of cancer survivors, recommending that survivors receive a treatment summary and survivorship care plan (SCPs). A focus on older breast cancer survivors is needed, as they are the majority of the breast cancer population and their experiences and perspectives of SCPs is limited in the literature. This pilot study utilized a mixed methods approach (focus groups and self-report questionnaire data) to gather information on older (≥65 years) breast cancer survivors’ perspectives of their SCPs, cancer survivorship, and communication with their health-care providers. The questionnaire was completed individually by the participants prior to the focus group and contained items on basic demographics and their health status following cancer treatment. The focus groups indicated that only a minority of women actually developed a SCP. Those who developed a SCP in collaboration with their providers valued the personal care and attention received. However, some participants reported poor communication with their providers and within their health-care team, resulting in frustration and confusion. Participants’ suggestions for ideal SCPs included better education and personalization, particularly in appropriate nutrition and exercise, and managing side effects and comorbidities. Lastly, the women believed that additional long-term care resources, such as health coaches, were important in improving their survivorship. These findings provide insight into enhancing the content, communication, and application of SCPs to improve the survivorship experience of older breast cancer survivors.

scholarly journals Adherence to follow-up recommendation guidelines in long term breast cancer survivors, a SURBCAN cohort analysis using administrative databases

The Breast ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 56 ◽  
pp. S80-S81
Author(s):  
P. Santiá ◽  
A. Jansana ◽  
T. Sanz ◽  
I. de la Cura ◽  
M. Padilla-Ruiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Cohort Analysis ◽  
Administrative Databases

scholarly journals Changes in the Semantic Construction of Compassion after the Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT®) in Women Breast Cancer Survivors

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgar González-Hernández ◽  
Daniel Campos ◽  
Rebeca Diego-Pedro ◽  
Rocío Romero ◽  
Rosa Baños ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Semantic Differential ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Treatment As Usual ◽  
Spanish Speaking ◽  
Specific Culture ◽  
Differential Categories

Abstract The growing body of research on compassion has demonstrated its benefits for healthcare and wellbeing. However, there is no clear agreement about a definition for compassion, given the novelty of the research on this construct and its religious roots. The aim of this study is to analyze the mental semantic construction of compassion in Spanish-speaking women breast cancer survivors, and the effects of the Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT®) on the modification of this definition, compared to treatment-as-usual (TAU), at baseline, post-intervention, and six-month follow-up. Participants were 56 women breast cancer survivors from a randomized clinical trial. The Osgood’s Semantic Differential categories (evaluative, potency, and activity scales) were adapted to assess the semantic construction of compassion. At baseline, participants had an undefined idea about compassion. The CBCT influenced subjects’ semantic construction of what it means to be compassionate. Findings could lead to future investigations and compassion programs that adapt to a specific culture or population.

Mammography Surveillance and Mortality in Older Breast Cancer Survivors

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (21) ◽  
pp. 3001-3006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy L. Lash ◽  
Matthew P. Fox ◽  
Diana S.M. Buist ◽  
Feifei Wei ◽  
Terry S. Field ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Cancer Mortality ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Breast Cancer Mortality ◽  
The United States ◽  
Stage I ◽  
Early Stage Disease

Purpose There are more than 2,000,000 breast cancer survivors in the United States today. While surveillance for asymptomatic recurrence and second primary is included in consensus recommendations, the effectiveness of this surveillance has not been well characterized. Our purpose is to estimate the effectiveness of surveillance mammography in a cohort of breast cancer survivors with complete ascertainment of surveillance mammograms and negligible losses to follow-up. Patients and Methods We enrolled 1,846 stage I and II breast cancer patients who were at least 65 years old at six integrated health care delivery systems. We used medical record review and existing databases to ascertain patient, tumor, and therapy characteristics, as well as receipt of surveillance mammograms. We linked personal identifiers to the National Death Index to ascertain date and cause of death. We matched four controls to each breast cancer decedent to estimate the association between receipt of surveillance mammogram and breast cancer mortality. Results One hundred seventy-eight women died of breast cancer during 5 years of follow-up. Each additional surveillance mammogram was associated with a 0.69-fold decrease in the odds of breast cancer mortality (95% CI, 0.52 to 0.92). The protective association was strongest among women with stage I disease, those who received mastectomy, and those in the oldest age group. Conclusion Given existing recommendations for post-therapy surveillance, trials to compare surveillance with no surveillance are unlikely. This large observational study provides support for the recommendations, suggesting that receipt of surveillance mammograms reduces the rate of breast cancer mortality in older patients diagnosed with early-stage disease.

scholarly journals How Beneficial is Follow-Up Mammography in Elderly Breast Cancer Survivors?

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 3518-3523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen P. Massimino ◽  
Maxine S. Jochelson ◽  
Imelda E. Burgan ◽  
Michelle Stempel ◽  
Monica Morrow
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors

A pilot study of a body image intervention for breast cancer survivors

Body Image ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 21-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Lewis-Smith ◽  
Phillippa Claire Diedrichs ◽  
Diana Harcourt
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Body Image ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors
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