scholarly journals Clinical Benefits of Acupuncture for the Reduction of Hormone Therapy–Related Side Effects in Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 602-618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanqing Pan ◽  
Kehu Yang ◽  
Xiue Shi ◽  
Haiqian Liang ◽  
Xiping Shen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Hormone Therapy ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Gastrointestinal Symptoms ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients

Importance. Acupuncture can help reduce unpleasant side effects associated with endocrine therapy for breast cancer. Nevertheless, comprehensive evaluation of current evidence from randomized controlled trials(RCTs) is lacking. Objective. To estimate the efficacy of acupuncture for the reduction of hormone therapy-related side effects in breast cancer patients. Evidence review. RCTs of acupuncture in breast cancer patients that examined reductions in hormone therapy–related side effects were retrieved from PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Ovid MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library databases through April 2016. The quality of the included studies was evaluated according to the 5.2 Cochrane Handbook standards, and CONSORT and STRICTA (Revised Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture) statements. Intervention. Interventions included conventional acupuncture treatment compared with no treatment, placebo, or conventional pharmaceutical medication. Major outcome measures were the alleviation of frequency and symptoms and the presence of hormone therapy–related side effects. Findings/Results. A total of 17 RCTs, including a total of 810 breast cancer patients were examined. The methodological quality of the trials was relatively rigorous in terms of randomization, blinding, and sources of bias. Compared with control therapies, the pooled results suggested that acupuncture had moderate effects in improving stiffness. No significant differences were observed in hot flashes, fatigue, pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, Kupperman index, general well-being, physical well-being, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interleukin (IL). Conclusions. Acupuncture therapy appears to be potentially useful in relieving functional stiffness. However, further large-sample trials with evidence-based design are still needed to confirm these findings.

scholarly journals Acupuncture for Hormone Therapy–Related Side Effects in Breast Cancer Patients: A GRADE-Assessed Systematic Review and Updated Meta-Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 153473542094039
Author(s):  
Pan Yuanqing ◽  
Tang Yong ◽  
Liang Haiqian ◽  
Chen Gen ◽  
Xiping Shen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Hormone Therapy ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Hot Flashes ◽  
Gastrointestinal Symptoms ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of acupuncture on the management of hormone therapy–related side effects in breast cancer patients. Methods: Randomized controlled trials of acupuncture versus a control or placebo in breast cancer patients that examined reductions in therapy-related side effects were retrieved from PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library through April 2020. Data on patient symptoms (hot flashes, fatigue, pain, stiffness, and gastrointestinal symptoms), physical capacity, cytokines, and general psychosomatic well-being were analyzed. We evaluated and analyzed the quality of all included studies with the 5.2 Cochrane Handbook standards using Stata software (version 10.0) and Revman software (version 5.2), respectively. We assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and evaluated the quality of evidence using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations) approach. Results: The pooled results suggested that acupuncture led to moderate improvements in hot flashes, fatigue, and stiffness. No significant differences were observed in pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, Kupperman index scores, Overall quality of life, tumor necrosis factor levels, and interleukin levels. Conclusions: Evidence for outcome indicators of symptom management were downgraded by the GRADE system for inconsistency, indirectness, and imprecision in the included RCTs. Nonetheless, acupuncture is a moderately appropriate alternative therapy for hormone therapy–related side effects in breast cancer patients. However, it still lacks large-sample, multicenter, prospective RCTs. Future research should focus on standardizing comparison groups and treatment methods, be at least single-blinded, assess biologic mechanisms, have adequate statistical power, and involve multiple acupuncturists.

scholarly journals EVA-Scalp: Evaluation of Patient Satisfaction with a Scalp Cooling Device to Prevent Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia in Breast Cancer Patients

Breast Care ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-177
Author(s):  
Franz-Ferdinand Bitto ◽  
Alexander König ◽  
Thuy  Phan-Brehm ◽  
Thomas Vallbracht ◽  
Julian Gregor Koch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Scalp Cooling ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Patient Selection Criteria

Purpose: Scalp cooling (SC) offers a chance to reduce hair loss (HL), but patient satisfaction, the effect on well-being, as well as patient selection criteria have not been sufficiently assessed yet. Methods: In the EVAScalp trial, SC was offered to 70 breast cancer patients who received chemotherapy between November 2015 and September 2018. For SC, the Paxman-Orbis-II System was used. Satisfaction was measured by a questionnaire evaluating the level of depression with the WHO-5 well-being index (WHO-5) plus questions addressing the patient’s experiences and side effects using the SC device. To evaluate efficacy, documentation by photo, by a physician, and by an HL-diary was conducted. Results: Regarding efficacy, a significant difference between chemotherapy regimens is seen. Anthracycline-based therapies led to a stop of SC in 71% of the patients, whereas taxane-based therapies without anthracyclines were associated with a high acceptance of SC, and 88% of patients with paclitaxel-based therapies continued SC throughout their chemotherapy. Overall, only 7.69% of the patients stopped because of side effects. As an indicator for quality of life, WHO-5 was higher (65.8%) in patients with successful SC compared to in patients who stopped SC because of HL or side effects (only 53.0%). The majority of patients (82.22%) with successful SC would recommend SC to other patients. Conclusions: Patients tolerated SC as long as HL was successfully prevented. The well-being of patients with successful SC was significantly higher than that of patients who stopped SC prematurely. In general, SC is a promising approach and improves patient well-being, but there are still limitations to its utility depending on the chemotherapy regimen used.

scholarly journals The impact of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on late radiation toxicity and quality of life in breast cancer patients

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marilot C. T. Batenburg ◽  
Wies Maarse ◽  
Femke van der Leij ◽  
Inge O. Baas ◽  
Onno Boonstra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Oxygen Therapy ◽  
Radiation Toxicity ◽  
Breast Pain ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract Purpose To evaluate symptoms of late radiation toxicity, side effects, and quality of life in breast cancer patients treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). Methods For this cohort study breast cancer patients treated with HBOT in 5 Dutch facilities were eligible for inclusion. Breast cancer patients with late radiation toxicity treated with ≥ 20 HBOT sessions from 2015 to 2019 were included. Breast and arm symptoms, pain, and quality of life were assessed by means of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and -BR23 before, immediately after, and 3 months after HBOT on a scale of 0–100. Determinants associated with persistent breast pain after HBOT were assessed. Results 1005/1280 patients were included for analysis. Pain scores decreased significantly from 43.4 before HBOT to 29.7 after 3 months (p < 0.001). Breast symptoms decreased significantly from 44.6 at baseline to 28.9 at 3 months follow-up (p < 0.001) and arm symptoms decreased significantly from 38.2 at baseline to 27.4 at 3 months follow-up (p < 0.001). All quality of life domains improved at the end of HBOT and after 3 months follow-up in comparison to baseline scores. Most prevalent side effects of HBOT were myopia (any grade, n = 576, 57.3%) and mild barotrauma (n = 179, 17.8%). Moderate/severe side effects were reported in 3.2% (n = 32) of the patients. Active smoking during HBOT and shorter time (i.e., median 17.5 vs. 22.0 months) since radiotherapy were associated with persistent breast pain after HBOT. Conclusion Breast cancer patients with late radiation toxicity reported reduced pain, breast and arm symptoms, and improved quality of life following treatment with HBOT.

scholarly journals Key Factors Contributing to Quality of Life for Breast Cancer Patients in Latvia: Supplementing Quantitative Surveys with Qualitative Interviews

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnese Dzērvīte ◽  
Maruta Pranka ◽  
Tana Lace ◽  
Ritma Rungule ◽  
Edvins Miklasevics ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Key Factors

Summary Introduction. Health related quality of life is a much debated topic in medicine with much quantitative and qualitative research contributing to the understanding of how to improve the lives of patients, yet little has been published in relation to the quality of life of Latvian breast cancer patients. Aim of the Study. To gather base measurements of subjective and objective quality of life factors for breast cancer patients in Latvia and discover which key factors contribute most to quality of life of Latvian breast cancer patients at the start of treatment. Materials and Methods. This paper presents data collected from April 2010 to June 2011 at the Pauls Stradins Clinical University hospital on key factors influencing quality of life for breast cancer patients: health and physical well-being; state of surroundings and environment; social support and functionality; financial state, employment and leisure. Quantitative survey material has been supplemented with insight from qualitative in-depth interviews to better explain the objective and subjective implications for breast cancer patients’ quality of life. Results. Interviewed breast cancer patients rated their quality of life as being average or good at the beginning of treatment. Negative factors contributing to lowered quality of life were mainly linked to patient financial, social and emotional state at the first weeks of treatment and correspond to previous research done in Latvia on quality of life issues. Conclusions. Further follow-up surveys will contribute to the evaluation of breast cancer patients’ needs while undergoing treatment to further improve treatment strategies, especially if validated quality of life measurement surveys were to be implemented in Latvian hospitals.

Quality of Life and Well-Being of Breast Cancer Patients

2020 ◽  
pp. 67-94
Author(s):  
Melisa Anderson ◽  
Dwayne Tucker ◽  
Fabian G. Miller ◽  
Kurt Vaz ◽  
Lennox Anderson-Jackson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Physical Aspect ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Malignant Breast

Breast cancer is a disease in which there is increased proliferation of malignant breast cells. This disease is more likely to begin in the ducts or lobules rather than the connective tissue. Globally, breast cancer is the most regularly diagnosed cancer. It is also a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in females. While cancer of the breast affects the physical aspect of patients, it can also negatively impact the quality of life (QoL) of survivors. There is a dearth of information, especially in the last decade, on the negative impact of breast cancer and treatment modalities on the QoL of patients. This review of the literature will examine the QoL and well-being of breast cancer patients to present a current perspective on the topic. Major findings of past and present articles that have contributed to improving the care of breast cancer patients will be summarized and included.

scholarly journals Effects of Different Exercise Interventions on Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 153473541988059
Author(s):  
Tetiana Odynets ◽  
Yuriy Briskin ◽  
Valentina Todorova
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Exercise Interventions ◽  
Water Exercise ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of different exercise interventions on quality of life parameters in breast cancer patients during 1 year of outpatient rehabilitation. Material and Methods: A total of 115 breast cancer patients met the eligibility criteria and completed the study. Participants were randomly allocated for the water exercise interventions (group A, n = 45), for the Pilates exercise interventions (group B, n = 40), and yoga exercise interventions (group C, n = 30). The 3 groups attended relevant programs for 1 year and received 144 rehabilitation sessions. Quality of life parameters were assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy questionnaire with a specific module for breast cancer patients (FACT-B). Quality of life data were recorded at baseline and after 6 and 12 months of exercise interventions. Results: A significant increase in quality of life indicators was observed in participants of all groups. Based on the results of the 12-month monitoring, patients of group A scored significantly more points for emotional well-being compared with group B and group C by 1.40 points ( P < .05) and 1.69 points ( P < .01), respectively, as well as by breast cancer subscale by 2.15 points ( P < .05) compared with group B. Patients in group C scored significantly better compared with group A in social/family well-being by 2.80 points ( P < .01). Conclusions: It was found that using water exercise intervention is more effective for improving emotional well-being and decreasing negative symptoms associated with breast cancer treatment compared with Pilates and yoga interventions, while yoga was more effective in improving social/family well-being. Further research on water interventions for different populations is warranted.

scholarly journals Acceptance of the illness and the quality of life of patients with breast cancer

2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-9
Author(s):  
Marzena Kamińska ◽  
Tomasz Ciszewski ◽  
Agnieszka Bronikowska ◽  
Maria Ferańska ◽  
Agnieszka Pawlak-Warszawska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Hormone Therapy ◽  
Endocrine Therapy ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Combined Therapy ◽  
Radical Mastectomy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract Introduction. Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer diagnosed in women. Its treatment is a combined therapy and the sequence and time are established according to the accepted standards in Poland. Consequences posed by this disease include disorder in the physical, mental and social spheres in women. Adapting to cancer is very important for the process of treatment, and the acceptance of the disease is the determinant. Aim. The aim of the study was to determine and compare the degree of acceptance of the illness and the assessment of quality of life among breast cancer patients during cancer treatment. Material and methods. The survey included 85 ill people treated in a conserving way and 94 ill people treated by breast amputation. Patients after the surgical procedure were subjected to adjuvant treatment involving chemotherapy (90 women) and/or endocrine therapy (87 women). The study used standardized questionnaires EORTC (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer): QLQC-30 and the scale (AIS Approval IIIness Scale). Results. The highest level of acceptance of the disease, so the best ability to adapt to cancer have those women who have undergone radical mastectomy and adjuvant hormone therapy during the treatment. The lowest level of acceptance of the illness, expressed as a negative assessment was observed in women after BCT and during chemotherapy treatment. The use of the EORTC QLQC-30 to assess the overall health and quality of life of patients allowed us to capture statistically significant differences in the percentages stating good health, with the relatively highest negative response rates which were observed in the subgroups treated with chemotherapy and hormone therapy. With regard to the highest quality of life, the percentage of negative responses was observed in subgroups treated with the use of hormone therapy and after mastectomy. Conclusions. Good acceptance of the disease was obtained by women treated for breast cancer who have undergone mastectomy in the course of adjuvant endocrine therapy. The assessment of general health and quality of life was influenced by oncological treatment. Patients during chemotherapy and hormone therapy showed a negative impact of this form of treatment on overall well-being and functioning.Patients after mastectomy and during hormone therapy treatment showed a comparatively lower quality of life compared to a group of patients after BCT and during treatment with chemotherapy

Randomized Controlled Trial of Yoga Among a Multiethnic Sample of Breast Cancer Patients: Effects on Quality of Life

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (28) ◽  
pp. 4387-4395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyson B. Moadel ◽  
Chirag Shah ◽  
Judith Wylie-Rosett ◽  
Melanie S. Harris ◽  
Sapana R. Patel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Spiritual Well Being ◽  
Multiethnic Sample

Purpose This study examines the impact of yoga, including physical poses, breathing, and meditation exercises, on quality of life (QOL), fatigue, distressed mood, and spiritual well-being among a multiethnic sample of breast cancer patients. Patients and Methods One hundred twenty-eight patients (42% African American, 31% Hispanic) recruited from an urban cancer center were randomly assigned (2:1 ratio) to a 12-week yoga intervention (n = 84) or a 12-week waitlist control group (n = 44). Changes in QOL (eg, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy) from before random assignment (T1) to the 3-month follow-up (T3) were examined; predictors of adherence were also assessed. Nearly half of all patients were receiving medical treatment. Results Regression analyses indicated that the control group had a greater decrease in social well-being compared with the intervention group after controlling for baseline social well-being and covariates (P < .0001). Secondary analyses of 71 patients not receiving chemotherapy during the intervention period indicated favorable outcomes for the intervention group compared with the control group in overall QOL (P < .008), emotional well-being (P < .015), social well-being (P < .004), spiritual well-being (P < .009), and distressed mood (P < .031). Sixty-nine percent of intervention participants attended classes (mean number of classes attended by active class participants = 7.00 ± 3.80), with lower adherence associated with increased fatigue (P < .001), radiotherapy (P < .0001), younger age (P < .008), and no antiestrogen therapy (P < .02). Conclusion Despite limited adherence, this intent-to-treat analysis suggests that yoga is associated with beneficial effects on social functioning among a medically diverse sample of breast cancer survivors. Among patients not receiving chemotherapy, yoga appears to enhance emotional well-being and mood and may serve to buffer deterioration in both overall and specific domains of QOL.

scholarly journals The Risk of Psychological Stress on Cancer Recurrence: A Systematic Review

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 5816
Author(s):  
Hyeon-Muk Oh ◽  
Chang-Gue Son
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cohort Studies ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Psychological Stress ◽  
Cancer Recurrence ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Data Points

Cancer recurrence is a significant clinical issue in cancer treatment. Psychological stress has been known to contribute to the incidence and progression of cancer; however, its effect on cancer recurrence remains inconclusive. We conducted a systematic review to examine the current evidence from the Medline (PubMed), Embase and Cochrane Library up to May 2021. Among 35 relevant articles, a total of 6 studies (10 data points) were finally selected, which enrolled 26,329 patients (26,219 breast cancer patients except hepatocellular carcinoma patients in 1 study), 4 cohort studies (8 data points) and 2 RCTs (2 data points). Among the 8 data points in cohort studies, four psychological stress-related factors (two ‘anxiety’, one ‘depression’, and one ‘hostility’) were shown to be moderately related with the risk for cancer recurrence, while ‘loss of partner’ resulted in opposite outcomes. The ‘emotional‘ and ‘mental’ health factors showed conflicting results, and an RCT-derived meta-analysis proved the positive efficiency of psychotherapies in reducing the cancer recurrence risk among breast cancer patients (HR = 0.52; 95% CI 0.33–0.84). Despite the limitations, this study produces comprehensive information about the effect of psychological stress on cancer recurrence and provides reference data to clinicians and scientists for further studies.

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