A Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy of Acupuncture Versus Aromatherapy as Treatments to Lessen Nausea, Vomiting and Anxiety Associated With Adriamycin and Cytoxan

Englewood Hospital and Medical Center

Status

Completed

Conditions

Vomiting

Nausea

Anxiety

Treatments

Other: Acupuncture

Other: Aromatherapy

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT04116697

E-19-773

Details and patient eligibility

About

The overall goal of this study is to explore the effectiveness of using acupuncture versus aromatherapy, in conjunction with standard of care anti-emetics, to decrease chemotherapy induced nausea, vomiting, and anxiety in breast cancer patients undergoing Adriamycin and Cytoxan. This study also aims to determine if aromatherapy and anti-emetics is more effective than acupuncture and anti-emetics in treating nausea, vomiting, and anxiety in patients receiving Adriamycin and Cytoxan and if acupuncture and anti-emetics is more effective than aromatherapy and anti-emetics in treating nausea, vomiting, and anxiety in patients receiving Adriamycin and Cytoxan.

Enrollment

26 patients

Sex

Female

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

i) Inclusion

At least 18 years of age on the day of signing informed consent
Patient has a diagnosis of breast cancer
Patient is planned to start Adriamycin and Cytoxan chemotherapy

ii) Exclusion

Patients who are unable to adhere to the protocol or treatment schedule
Patients who have a concurrent illness or take medication that induces nausea independent of chemotherapy
Patients undergoing radiotherapy or hormone therapy during chemotherapy treatments
Patients who have a sensitive and/or poor sense of smell
Patients who are allergic to essential oils, specifically peppermint, ginger, and/or lavender
Patients who are already using essential oils or acupuncture for symptom management and are unwilling to stop while participating in this study
Patients who are afraid of or unwilling to receive acupuncture stimulation
Patients who are allergic to stainless steel needles
Thrombocytopenia (Platelets < 20,000)
Patients who have received aromatherapy and/or acupuncture treatment within 1 week of starting treatment on this study