Mindfulness practices to reduce anxiety and pain in breast cancer patients
Feasibility Study to Determine the Effect of Meditation on Perioperative Pain and Distress in Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients
This study tests if regular meditation and breathing exercises can help women with breast cancer feel less anxious and in less pain before and after their surgery.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 24 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | Female |
| Sponsor | Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy |
| Locations | 1 site (Newport Beach, California) |
| Trial ID | NCT04049214 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a regular meditation and breath work practice initiated before surgery and continued through recovery in improving anxiety and pain for women diagnosed with breast cancer. The intervention focuses on mindfulness techniques, which have shown promise in enhancing psychological well-being and reducing stress in various chronic pain conditions. By targeting newly diagnosed patients undergoing surgical treatment, the study seeks to address the psychological and physical challenges associated with breast cancer treatment. The research will be conducted at Hoag Memorial Hospital, where a significant number of breast cancer surgeries occur annually.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are females aged 18 and older, newly diagnosed with primary breast cancer, who will undergo surgical treatment.
Not a fit: Patients with recurrent breast cancer, major psychiatric diagnoses, or those currently practicing meditation regularly may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly alleviate anxiety and pain for breast cancer patients, potentially reducing reliance on opioid medications.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown improvements in psychological health for breast cancer survivors using mindfulness techniques, but the specific impact on pain levels remains largely untested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Females 18 years of age or older * Subject must be able to speak and read English * Newly diagnosed with primary breast cancer * Will receive primary surgical treatment for their breast cancer diagnosis. * Undergoing lumpectomy with or without autologous reconstruction with or without contralateral surgery for symmetry with or without IORT or simple mastectomy without reconstruction * Breast cancer or DCIS Exclusion Criteria: * Recurrent breast cancer * Current or history of major psychiatric diagnosis. * Subjects who are receiving neo-adjuvant chemotherapy * Subjects undergoing modified radical mastectomy or reconstruction * Subjects regular meditation practice within the past 12 months (defined as greater than twice weekly practice) * Subjects unwilling or unable to complete study materials or comply with study visits * Subjects with no access to email or a mobile phone (required to access meditations) * Subjects undergoing surgery outside Hoag * Subjects who have narcotic dependence as defined by regular weekly narcotic use before cancer diagnosis. * Re-excision after lumpectomy (subjects who require re-excision after initial enrollment will be excluded from final analysis and dropped from the study).
Where this trial is running
Newport Beach, California
- Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian — Newport Beach, California, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Melinda Epstein, PhD
- Email: clinicalresearch@hoag.org
- Phone: 949-764-5543
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.