Active clinical trials for "Breast Neoplasms"

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effects of self-applied acupressure on arthralgia-fatigue-sleep disturbance symptom cluster in breast cancer survivors receiving aromatase inhibitors. This is a preliminary randomized controlled trial, with a three-arm trial design including verum self-acupressure, sham self-acupressure, and usual care. Subjects will include 52 breast cancer survivors who are receiving aromatase inhibitors and have experienced a moderate level of joint pain and at least one of the two symptoms including fatigue and sleep disturbance. Subjects who are randomized to either the verum self-acupressure group (group A) or the sham self-acupressure group (group B) will receive up to 8 weeks of the intervention consisting of two components: (1) two individual/group acupressure training sessions over 2 weeks and (2) self-acupressure for 6 weeks. The method and duration of self-acupressure in the sham group will be the same to those in the verum intervention group. The control group will receive usual care. The outcome measures of this study will be related to feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effects of self-acupressure. Individual in-depth interviews will be conducted with selected participants in group A and B to understand their perceptions and perceived effectiveness of the intervention.

In this study, the investigators want to check whether it has a direct effect on the participants first, and secondly, whether it affects the relationship between the patient and the doctor or treatment satisfaction, by reducing the anxiety of patients before surgery through music therapy.

This study aims to develop a mobile app-based periopeartive intervnetion for women undergoing breast cancer surgery and examine the effectiveness of the program on participants' health outcomes of self-efficacy, anxiety and depression, pain and fatigue, quality of life, and satisfaction with perioperative care. This study also aims to explore the perceptions of participants on strengths and weaknesses of using the app.

Young women who have finished treatment for breast cancer regularly report a lack of psychological and social support in their lives. They often continue to struggle with survivorship issues such as ongoing distress and the challenge of how to rebuild their lives after treatment. This experiment will compare two online support group (OSG) options to determine if both forms of support help young breast cancer survivors adjust, by reducing treatment-related intrusions and helping women re-engage in valued activities and commitments. It will also test if these 2 types of OSG's help womens' mood, feelings of loneliness, confidence, and overall life satisfaction. It will explore the processes within support groups that help to create positive change for young women after cancer treatment. Previous work by this team in a smaller study has shown that online support groups led by professional counselors can be carried out over the Internet, and that they produce helpful benefits for young women survivors of breast cancer. The online groups were comprised of 10 sessions of real time chats, with each session focused on a specific topic. Participants were provided with an educational manual designed to improve skills for coping after cancer, and they were instructed to read one chapter a week in preparation for the chats. The women enjoyed the groups and 3 months after completing the groups, they reported improved quality of life, lower emotional distress, and enhanced coping. However, a large study to determine the strength and reliability of these early promising findings is needed. The questions to be examined are whether trained peers (other young breast cancer survivors) might be able to facilitate the online groups and provide similar positive benefits for young breast cancer survivors, and what facilitators can do to maximize positive benefits in online support groups. This is a multi-provincial, 3-arm study that will compare a professionally-led OSG (with an educational manual) and a peer-led OSG (with an education manual) with a group that just receives the educational manual. Psychological assessment measures given immediately following the 12 week group, and at 6 months and 12 months follow-up, will determine if one or both of the study groups effectively improve quality of life, reduce distress, and enhance self-efficacy and life satisfaction for young breast cancer survivors. Additionally, tests will be performed to investigate whether discussing emotional matters predicts greater improvements.

The proposed study compares the outcomes of a physical activity intervention begun at diagnosis, continuing through active cancer treatment and into six months of survivorship compared to the outcomes of a control group receiving limited information on activity.

Breast cancer and its treatments can take a toll on the physical and psychosocial well-being of cancer survivors. Few interventions can help breast cancer patients improve their physical strength, stamina, and overall well-being. Developing ways to facilitate PA behavior during chemotherapy for breast cancer are necessary. This trial explores ways that breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy can learn about and engage in PA during chemotherapy. This trial will also give Southern Alberta breast cancer survivors an opportunity to participate in evidence-based programs designed to facilitate their health, breast cancer recovery, and disease-free survival. The investigators primary hypothesis is that women receiving the PA intervention resource kit will report a more positive change in self-reported PA at the end of chemotherapy treatments when compared to the group receiving standard materials.

The primary objectives of this study are to determine if the use of Guided Relaxation Training (GRT) during cancer treatment in individuals with newly diagnosed breast cancer increases their ability to cope as measured by the Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES) and reduces their perceived stress as measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS).

The purpose of this study is to map the arm lymphatic drainage system in the axilla with blue dye and the breast drainage system with a radioactive material. By identifying the arm lymphatics they can be protected during surgery and this may decrease the occurrence of lymphedema. The information obtained in this study may provide us with better surgical techniques to identify and protect the arm lymphatic drainage system in the axilla.

This study will compare three standard treatment programs commonly offered to patients with breast cancer. The three programs being compared are 1) Mindfulness Meditation-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), 2)Supportive- Expressive Group Therapy (SET), and 3) A one day stress-management seminar. The purpose of this study is to determine if these three treatments have different effects on psychological well-being, the immune system, and the amount of stress hormones in the bloodstream.

RATIONALE: Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) may prevent or lessen hand-foot syndrome caused by chemotherapy. It is not yet known whether pyridoxine is more effective than a placebo in preventing hand-foot syndrome. PURPOSE: This phase III randomized trial is studying pyridoxine to see how well it works compared to a placebo in preventing hand-foot syndrome in patients who are receiving capecitabine for advanced colorectal cancer or breast cancer.