ScarWork to treat long-term breast pain after surgery

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This is a single-site feasibility interventional study offering ScarWork, a light-touch manual therapy directed at scar tissue, to people with ongoing breast pain after surgery and radiotherapy. Eligible participants are adults in remission from early-stage breast cancer who completed radiotherapy at least six months earlier and report pain of 3 or higher on a 0–10 scale. Participants will attend regular ScarWork treatment sessions at the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine, and researchers will collect measures of pain, scar mobility, function, and feasibility outcomes such as recruitment and adherence. Key exclusions include prior ScarWork, wound complications, lymphoedema, active physiotherapy for the condition, or severe co-morbidities.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Over the age of 18
* Early breast cancer patients who have had breast surgery with curative intent
* Radiotherapy completed ≥ 6 months previously
* In remission with no sign of active local disease
* Registering a score of ≥3 on perceived pain intensity or pain burden on a 10-point numerical rating scale (NRS)
* English speaking and able to communicate reasonably well
* Able to give informed consent
* Willing to attend for regular treatment at RLHIM

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of post-breast surgery wound complications
* History of breast surgery unrelated to breast cancer treatment
* History of previous ScarWork therapy
* Diagnosis of lymphoedema
* Severe co-morbidities or cognitive disability
* Receiving physiotherapy for post-breast surgery pain syndrome at the time of trial

Where it's running

• Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
  London, United Kingdom Recruiting

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.