Swimming to help with pain and swelling after breast cancer treatment
Breaststroke Swimming After Breast Cancer Treatment/Surgery as a Means of Treatment for Seroma, Lymphedema, and Chronic Arm and Chest Pain
This study is testing if a swimming program can help women who had breast cancer surgery feel less pain and swelling.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 128 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Ottawa Hospital Research Institute Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | radiation |
| Locations | 1 site (Ottawa, Ontario) |
| Trial ID | NCT04080934 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study investigates the effectiveness of a swimming program, specifically the breaststroke, in alleviating symptoms of lymphedema, seroma, and chronic pain in women who have undergone surgery for breast cancer. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an 8-week swimming regimen or a control group receiving standard care. The swimming sessions will occur three times a week for at least 30 minutes, utilizing the therapeutic properties of water to aid recovery. The goal is to determine if this exercise can improve quality of life and reduce discomfort associated with post-operative complications.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adult female patients aged 18 or older who have recently undergone surgery for breast cancer and are experiencing related pain or swelling.
Not a fit: Patients with ongoing medical issues that contraindicate swimming or those who swam regularly before their diagnosis may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a non-invasive and effective treatment option for managing pain and swelling in breast cancer survivors.
How similar studies have performed: While there is limited research specifically on swimming for these conditions, similar exercise-based interventions have shown promise in improving outcomes for breast cancer survivors.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Eligible participants include adult female patients, 18 years of age or higher, from the Ottawa Hospital who are post-operative from a lumpectomy or a mastectomy with or without full axillary dissection and radiation. They will be less than 3 years from completion of their acute cancer treatment. Study subjects must have pain symptoms related to chest wall pain and/or arm morbidity, seroma or lymphedema. They must have approval from their medical and radiation oncologist to participate in the study upon enrollment. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with ongoing medical problems where swimming would be contraindicated will be excluded from this study. Those who swam on a regular basis prior to their breast cancer diagnosis will be excluded from the study, as well as those who cannot swim, due to safety concerns and limited resources/time required to complete more in-depth swimming instruction.
Where this trial is running
Ottawa, Ontario
- University of Ottawa — Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Natalie Mills, MD — Univeristy of Ottawa
- Study coordinator: Natalie Mills, MD
- Email: dr.nataliemills@rogers.com
- Phone: 613-446-6401
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.