CLINICAL RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS
Please note: All posters will be displayed in
Salons 10-12.
FRIDAY, 5:45-6:30 PM
Walker EM, Rodriguez AI, Levine RA.
Acupuncture for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms in
breast cancer patients receiving hormonal therapy: a preliminary report.
Henry Ford Health System ewalker1@hfhs.org
Vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes, etc.) are some of
the most common debilitating side effects experienced by breast cancer
patients receiving hormone suppression therapy. Hormone replacement
therapy, normally used in postmenopausal women to treat these symptoms,
is contraindicated in breast cancer patients. The antidepressant, venlafaxine
(Effexor), a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, is currently the pharmacological
therapy of choice for these hot flashes. However, many women refuse
this treatment approach because of potential side effects that include
sexual dysfunction and nausea, or they simply don't want to take any
more medication. This ongoing controlled clinical trial tests the hypothesis
that acupuncture reduces/eliminates vasomotor symptoms in breast cancer
patients receiving hormonal therapy and produces fewer side effects
than venlafaxine. A total of 140 patients treated for breast cancer
(Stages 0-III) receiving either Tamoxifen or Arimidex and having at
least 14 hot flashes/wk are randomized to receive acupuncture or venlafaxine
over the course of 12 weeks. Patients log daily the number and severity
of hot flashes for one-week prior to treatment (baseline), during the
course of treatment, and at regular intervals throughout one year following
treatment. Other outcome measures assessed before, during, and after
treatment include menopause-specific quality of life, general health
status (SF-12), side effects from treatments, and mental health/mood
assessment (Beck Depression Inventory). Preliminary data indicate that
acupuncture is at least as effective, and may even be more effective,
than venlafaxine in reducing vasomotor symptoms. Additionally, patients
in the acupuncture group report significantly fewer side effects. In
fact, they report increased sexual desire, energy, clarity of thought,
and overall well-being (compared to pretreatment). Data continue to
be collected to fully evaluate these treatments. This study has the
potential to decrease dramatically the debilitation from vasomotor symptoms
in breast cancer patients receiving hormone suppression therapy, as
well as establishing an integrative approach that is more effective
in managing breast cancer.
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