Home-based Pain and Symptom Management for Breast Cancer Survivors: a Triple- Blinded RCT Pilot Study of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS)
1. To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a home-based taVNS intervention and follow-up for pain and symptom management in breast cancer survivors. 2. To investigate the impact of taVNS on secondary outcomes, including pain, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and the brain-gut axis (BGA) in breast cancer survivors.
• are aged 18-79 years older;
• have histologically confirmed Stage 0, I, II, or III breast cancer;
• had completed their primary cancer treatment (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy) and are currently on a stable survivorship care plan (e.g., endocrine therapy, supportive care), with no major treatment changes expected during the study;
• have experienced pain with a severity of 4 or greater out of 10 for at least ten days in the last month;
• are committed to maintaining the current treatment plan (e.g., endocrine therapy, supportive care) during the study;
• have reliable internet access;
• are willing to provide stool samples and undergo fNIRS brain imaging procedures;
• are able to read and understand English and provide written informed consent.