Integrative East-West approaches for Improving the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients

Improving Outcomes: A pilot study of a integrative East-West medical model for survivors with chronic disabling symptoms

After receiving cancer treatments, many breast cancer survivors (BCS) confront long-term, sometimes disabling, symptoms. Frequently reported are chronic pain, fatigue, severe hot flashes, memory loss or "chemo brain," and a host of other symptoms. As a result, many BCS experience a tremendous decrease in their quality of life. Some complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches have been shown to offer solutions for supportive care. However, these have rarely been examined specifically for breast cancer patients. Interview data from BCS with symptoms indicate willingness to utilize CAM for symptom management/relief if it were accessible and affordable.

For this project, we propose to evaluate the impact of a patient-centered integrative East-West medical model intended to improve the health related quality of life (HRQOL) for breast cancer survivors living with post-treatment symptoms. We hypothesize that incorporation of CAM treatments as part of overall care will alleviate specific symptomatic problems as experienced by BCS. Specifically, we aim to: 1) provide free clinical services and self-treatment education; 2) evaluate the effectiveness of this integrative approach on quality of life over standard medical care; and, 3) evaluate the impact of treatment on pain, fatigue and depression.