Leading Charity Begins World's Largest Study Into Acupuncture And Breast Cancer, UK

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Also Included In: Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine;  Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 18 Oct 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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Breakthrough Breast Cancer launches the world's largest and most advanced clinical trial to investigate whether acupuncture may help women with breast cancer cope with fatigue, a major side effect of breast cancer treatment. The ACU.FATIGUE study is the first to be funded as part of Breakthrough's programme of research to develop high quality, scientific studies looking at complementary therapies used by breast cancer patients

Over 60% of breast cancer patients use complementary therapies to try to help ease the side effects of their treatment such as fatigue, nausea or hot flushes. However, little is currently known about how they may work or how safe they are for patients to use alongside conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy

Breakthrough's ACU.FATIGUE study, led by Professor Alex Molassiotis, Professor of Cancer & Supportive Care at The University of Manchester, aims to recruit 320 women who have undergone chemotherapy within the last five years and have high levels of fatigue. Cancer-related fatigue is a feeling of persistent exhaustion or loss of strength whilst undergoing treatment. It is different from 'normal' fatigue experienced by healthy individuals in that it is not relieved by rest or sleep. The study will be the world's largest clinical trial of acupuncture for cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients and only the second of its kind worldwide. It will also be the first to examine the benefits of self-acupuncture for women with breast cancer.

Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, says;

"Many women use complementary therapies to try and help alleviate treatment side effects, increase their quality of life and reduce stress. However there is little information available for women to know whether or not something will work or whether it may interfere with their conventional treatment. There is a real need to understand more about the effectiveness and safety of complementary therapies such as acupuncture in cancer patients."

Eligible patients will be randomly selected to receive either weekly sessions of acupuncture for 6 weeks or standard care. After this period, patients in the acupuncture group will then be randomly selected to continue for a further 4 weeks to either receive weekly acupuncture by a therapist, undertake self acupuncture or receive no acupuncture. All patients' fatigue levels will be monitored throughout this study, which will last for 3 years.

The clinical trial will be conducted at the Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust in London. Professor Alex Molassiotis says;

"Acupuncture is one of the more established complementary therapies and studies suggest that it is safe in the hands of a competent practitioner*. Other studies have shown that acupuncture may help ease nausea caused by chemotherapy and certain types of pain. Now we want to find out whether there is an added benefit of reducing levels of cancer-related fatigue, which can be debilitating and distressing and often mistaken for depression.

"The results of this research could, improve the quality of life of breast cancer patients and add to the limited treatment choices for managing cancer related fatigue."

Shirley Rutter, aged 53 from Shropshire, used acupuncture during her treatment for breast cancer. She says;

"I've explored a variety of complementary therapies including acupuncture and found them to be beneficial. I know people can be sceptical of complementary therapies, which is why research into this area is needed - patients need proof of whether these therapies work. Breakthrough's study into whether acupuncture can help ease fatigue is an important step forward."

Working with Professor Molassiotis will be Professor Alison Richardson, Professor of Cancer and Palliative Nursing Care at the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery at King's College London, Dr Jacqueline Filshie, Consultant in Anaesthesia and Pain Management at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust in London and Dr Peter Mackereth, Clinical Lead in Complementary Therapies at the Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester.

For more information about Breakthrough's work, including the ACU.FATIGUE study, please visit www.breakthrough.org.uk.

* Vincent C, (2001), British Medical Journal, 323: 9-10.

- Complementary therapies include therapies such as relaxation techniques, massage, acupuncture and aromatherapy that are used alongside conventional treatments. They are NOT given with the aim of curing the disease.

- Complementary therapies are used alongside conventional treatments. Alternative therapies are used in place of conventional treatment, which Breakthrough does not advocate.

- Breakthrough advises women receiving treatment for breast cancer, to check with their doctor before taking any complementary therapies in case they interfere with conventional treatment.

- Anyone interested in participating in the ACU.FATIGUE study can find out more at http://www.breakthrough.org.uk or by emailing complementarytherapies@breakthrough.org.uk

Breakthrough Breast Cancer

- Breakthrough Breast Cancer is the UK's leading charity committed to fighting breast cancer through research, campaigning and education. Our essence comes from the thousands of people who are committed to a single vision - to work for a future free from the fear of breast cancer. http://www.breakthrough.org.uk.

- Breakthrough Breast Cancer, in partnership with The Institute of Cancer Research, established the UK's first dedicated breast cancer research centre in 1999 - The Breakthrough Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre.

- The Breakthrough Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre is situated in the Mary-Jean Mitchell Green Building at the Chester Beatty Laboratories at The Institute of Cancer Research. Under the directorship of Professor Alan Ashworth, its 120 scientists and clinicians are working on a programme of cutting edge biological research that ultimately aims to eradicate breast cancer, by discovering the causes of the disease, finding methods of prevention and developing new treatments and more effective diagnosis.

. Breast Cancer

- Breast cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in UK women, accounting for nearly 1 in 3 of all female cancers.

- Over 44,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK and 35 women will die every day from this disease.

- Breakthrough has developed a handbag-sized guide - Breast Cancer Risk Factors: The Facts - to help improve our understanding of the known causes of breast cancer.

http://www.breakthrough.org.uk