The Effect of Reflexology on Radiation-related Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients

Sheba Medical Center

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2; Phase 1

Conditions: Fatigue

Treatments: Other: Reflexology treatment.

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00825682

SHEBA-07-4923-DG-CTIL

Details and patient eligibility

About

Oncologic patients often report increased fatigue during and after radiation therapy. Reflexology treatment has been demonstrated to alleviate symptoms of fatigue, nausea, and anxiety in oncologic patients treated with chemotherapy. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of reflexology on fatigue, quality of life, and quality of sleep of breast cancer patients during and after radiation therapy.

Full description

Reflexology (foot massage) is a complementary medicine technique which is performed by manual pressure on specific areas of the feet. Reflexology is based on a system of zones and reflex areas that are believed to reflect an image of the body on the feet with a premise that such work effects a physical change to the body.

The effect of reflexology on fatigue, quality of life, and quality of sleep of 20 breast cancer patients during and after radiation therapy will be compared to age-matched control group of 20 breast cancer patients treated by radiation therapy.

Enrollment: 72 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 21+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Breast cancer adult patients scheduled to receive adjuvant radiation therapy

Exclusion criteria

• Open wounds or evidence of metastases on the lower limbs
• Touch therapy or other complementary therapy other than intervention procedure

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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72 participants in 2 patient groups

1

Experimental group

Description:

20 breast cancer patients scheduled for adjunctive radiation treatment will be recruited for this study to receive reflexology treatment initiated at the beginning of radiation therapy, once a week, for 10 weeks.

Treatment:

Other: Reflexology treatment.

2

No Intervention group

Description:

20 breast cancer patients, scheduled for adjunctive radiation treatment, matched by age to the intervention group will receive treatment as usual, and will be evaluated by the same measures as the intervention group.