Acupuncture for Joint Symptoms in Patients With Breast Cancer

Joint symptoms including stiffness, local pain and aches are common adverse reactions among breast cancer (BC) patients undergoing hormone treatments, while effective interventions for managing such symptoms have not been well explored so far. Acupuncture can be a promising approach to controlling joint symptoms in BC patients but current research evidence generated from several small-scale clinical studies have not been robust enough to support the use of acupuncture for cancer symptom management in routine practice. The overall aim of the research project is to examine the effectiveness of a 6-week acupuncture protocol for the management of joint symptoms in Chinese female BC patients who are currently undergoing hormone treatments following the completion of taxane-based chemotherapy. Given the lack of available data regarding the prevalence of joint symptoms in BC patients in mainland China, a large cross-sectional survey will also be performed to examine the incidence of joint symptoms among Chinese BC patients in mainland China and the impact of joint symptoms on patients' quality of life.

Sex

Female

Inclusion Criteria:

1. BC patients with a confirmed diagnosis of hormone receptor-positive BC at the stage of I, II or IIIa;
2. Patients who have completed taxane-based chemotherapy and are currently undergoing hormone treatments for at least three months;
3. Patients indicate ongoing joint symptoms, including joint pain and/or stiffness, at one or more sites of body;
4. Patients started to experience the joint symptoms after the commencement of the hormone treatments;
5. Patients indicate the intensity of their worst pain during the past seven days of greater than 4 points at a 0-10 NRS scale where 0 represents no pain and 10 indicates most severe pain;
6. Patients have at least a primary school education and are able to communicate in Chinese Mandarin or Sichuanese; and
7. Patients agree to participate in the trial and are willing to give written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who had needle phobia and a low count of platelet of less than 50,000;
2. Patients with conditions which are not appropriate for acupuncture including pregnancy, bleeding disorders, local or systematic inflammation, and other neuropathic and/or metabolic problems of the joints;
3. Patients who had received joint surgery or had bone fracture during the past six months;
4. Patients who had received any types of acupoint stimulation (e.g. body acupuncture or acupressure and auricular therapy) during the past six months; and
5. Patients are currently treated with narcotic analgesia or steroids.

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