NCT00828516

Using Traditional Acupuncture in the Management of Cancer Treatment Related Lymphoedema

Using Acupuncture and Moxibustion to Promote Wellbeing and Improve Quality of Life for Patients With Upper Body Lymphoedema Secondary to Cancer Treatment

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 56 (actual)
• Sponsor: East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust · Other Government
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

RATIONALE: Acupuncture and moxibustion may improve well-being and quality of life in patients with lymphedema caused by breast cancer or head, neck, and throat cancer. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying how well acupuncture given together with moxibustion works in improving well-being and quality of life in patients with breast cancer or head, neck, and throat cancer who are undergoing standard treatment for lymphedema.

Detailed description

OBJECTIVES: * To test the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment strategies to obtain a first measure of response for the approach(es) used in patients with breast cancer or head, neck, and throat cancer undergoing standard treatment for secondary lymphedema. * To assess whether this treatment is an acceptable intervention to cancer patients with secondary lymphedema and to their health care professionals. * To disseminate the data to begin to build the evidence base for using this treatment in the management of lymphedema. OUTLINE: Patients undergo acupuncture and moxibustion therapy once weekly for 7 treatment (Series 1). After completion of therapy, patients may choose to continue treatment for an additional 6 treatments (Series 2). Patients complete a set of 4 questionnaires (i.e., sociodemographic, Short-Form-36, Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), and Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP)) at the first treatment and then periodically during study. Patients also complete a series of follow-up questionnaires designed to elicit feedback about their acupuncture experience. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed at 1 and 3 months.

Conditions

• Breast Cancer
• Head and Neck Cancer
• Lymphedema

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Acupuncture and moxibustion	Acupuncture is a form of traditional east Asian medicine that uses needles inserted superficially under the skin to stimulate sites on the body known as acupuncture points. Traditional practice encompasses moxibustion, the application of heat (usually from the smouldering herb artemisia vulgaris or mugwort) to stimulate the points by warming them.

Timeline

• Start date: 2008-04-01
• Primary completion: 2009-09-01
• Completion: 2009-12-01
• First posted: 2009-01-26
• Last updated: 2013-01-17
• Results posted: 2013-01-17

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United Kingdom