Fatigue As a Late Effect in Breast Cancer Survivors - is Acupuncture a Treatment Option?

Summary

The success of treatment of breast cancer has improved, hence the prevalence of survivors have increased. However, experienced late effects from the cancer itself or from cancer treatment is substantial. Anti-cancer treatment can have a number of side effects including nausea, fatigue, vomiting, anorexia and alopecia. Late effects such as cancer related fatigue (CRF) are very persistent. CRF is a common side effect of cancer therapy, and affects the quality of life of patients and their families. It is important to point out that CRF is a form of fatigue that are different from normal fatigue which everyone can experience every now and then. Acupuncture is increasingly used in cancer centers both in the US and Europe, and that patients are positive to using acupuncture. Albeit the emerging evidence for acupuncture and CRF, acupuncture has neither been offered as a treatment for CRF within a Norwegian hospital nor in general practice. Hence the investigators think there is a need for a large randomized controlled trial (RCT) in a Norwegian health care setting.

Conditions

• Fatigue
• Depression, Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Hot Flashes
• Quality of Life

Interventions

OTHER

Acupuncture; based on Tradidtional Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture is a form of treatment that involves inserting very thin needles through a person's skin at specific points on the body, to various depths. Research suggests that it can help relieve pain, and it is used for a wide range of other complaints.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Norwegian Cancer Society

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Bergen

  collaborator OTHER

• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

  collaborator OTHER

• Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

  collaborator OTHER

• University Hospital, Akershus

  collaborator OTHER

• University of York

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Tromso

  collaborator OTHER

• Kristiania University College

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Terje Alraek, PhD · School of Health Sciences, Kristiania University College

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-09-01

Primary Completion

2024-06-15

Completion

2024-12-31

Countries

• Norway

Study Locations