Effectiveness of Integrative Medicine Treatments in Lymphoma Survivors

Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Procedure, Behavioral, Dietary supplement
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY

Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph nodes. While some are silent and only require follow-up, in cases of aggressive lymphoma, treatment is necessary, and usually includes biological drugs, chemotherapy or both. These drugs often cause significant damage to quality-of-life and various symptoms that do not always go away. Although the treatments are often limited in time and with recovery rates over 60%, most patients are left with a significantly impaired quality-of-life and difficulty in returning to their previous life. Many studies, most of which were conducted in breast cancer survivors, show the place of complementary medicine in the recovery process, both in terms of symptom relief and in improving quality-of-life. Few studies have examined the place of complementary and integrative medicine in lymphoma survivors. The purpose of the present study is to examine the effect of integrative treatments (a combination of conventional and complementary medicine) on quality-of-life of lymphoma survivors, on specific symptoms caused by the disease and its treatment, on economic and social aspects, as well as on the course of the disease. At the hematological unit of Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel, patients with lymphoma who have received chemotherapy, biological treatment or both, and have been defined as recovering by the treating hematologist, will be offered a choice of different types of complementary medicine (acupuncture, herbal medicine, mind-body, movement and touch therapies), emotional treatment (conversations with social worker, spiritual guidance), or both, in addition to the medical and nursing care offered to all survivors. Patients who prefer not to come to the clinic for these treatments will be assigned to the control group and will fill out questionnaires only. The duration of the treatments will be six months and follow-up for another two years. The type of treatments the patient will receive will be chosen in coordination between the integrative team and the patient and according to the symptoms. An assessment will be made on the effect of these treatments on quality-of-life of lymphoma survivors (based on questionnaires), including physical, psycho-spiritual and economic aspects, as well as on the course of the disease.

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 18
Healthy Volunteers: f
View:

• Patients diagnosed with a lymphoproliferative disease

• Aged 18 years or older

• Received chemotherapy, biological treatment or both for treating the lymphoproliferative disease

• Defined in remission for less than one year by the haemato-oncologist (maintenance therapy is authorized)

• Can respond to questionnaires

• Signed informed consent

Locations
Other Locations
Israel
Bnai Zion Medical Center
RECRUITING
Haifa
Contact Information
Primary
Dana Weizer
dana.weizer@b-zion.org.il
972-543295952
Time Frame
Start Date: 2023-07-13
Estimated Completion Date: 2028-07
Participants
Target number of participants: 90
Treatments
Experimental: Integrative oncology
All patients will be followed up by a haemato-oncologist. The frequency and type of visits and exams will be determined by National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, patients' symptoms and physician's clinical judgement. Patients recruited to the intervention arm will receive, on top of the defined conventional medicine follow-up, integrative oncology intervention including emotional treatments (counseling, spiritual guidance), complementary medicine (acupuncture, herbal supplements, mind-body, touch and/or movement therapies) or both. The type and frequency of these interventions will be defined by the integrative team in coordination with the patient, based on evidence-based data, patient's symptoms, and preferences. The duration of the intervention will be 6 months from recruitment.
No_intervention: Conventional medicine only
All patients will be followed up by a haemato-oncologist. The frequency and type of visits and exams will be determined by NCCN guidelines, patients' symptoms and physician's clinical judgement.
Related Therapeutic Areas
Sponsors
Leads: Bnai Zion Medical Center

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov