Breast Cancer Charity – Cancer research funding application

Breast Cancer Stress Release Programme

Evaluating Combined Relaxation with Anchored Freedom Therapy (CRAFT) as a treatment plan for breast cancer patients: a treatment plan using group teaching and chronologically structured CD combining breathing pattern retraining (BPR), meditation (M), mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), and progressive muscle relaxation training (PMRT).

General introduction

Relaxation / meditation techniques are widely used amongst patients with advanced breast cancer (Shen, Andersen, Albert et al 2002). There is some evidence that meditation might be useful for alleviation of pain and anxiety in cancer patients (Ernst 2001). There is evidence that the use of PMRT considerably decreased the duration of nausea and vomiting. There is evidence that relaxation training reduces treatment related symptoms, anxiety and depression (Luebbert, Dahme and Hasenbring 2001). There is some suggestion that mindfulness based therapy is helpful in cancer patients, though the evidence base is limited (Smith et al 2004).

Background to CRAFT

CRAFT combines BPR, M, MBSR, and PMRT in an easy-to-use method to practise at home for 40 minutes daily listening to a CD to re-programme mental responses to stress triggers.

The CD has shown anecdotally that cancer and other conditions have significant reduction in symptoms such as stress, chemotherapy side effects, nausea, pain, fear, emotions, sleep, energy levels, breathing difficulties, anxiety, and vomiting. All these can be relevant to breast cancer management.

CRAFT was adapted for PhD research, Study into the Healing of Attention Deficit using Energy Systems (SHADES) within Mexican schools.

Most schoolchildren who completed the SHADES study seemed cured, as assessed by Brown’s ADHD scale and video observation of behaviour. Pilot study published, Sweeney and Goble. Preliminary PhD data shows highly significant improved conduct, sleep, behaviour and performance.

Aims to collaborate with Breakthrough  Breast Cancer  Charity     

Collaboration would assure participating patients that CRAFT ideas, research protocols and outcomes are of the utmost calibre because Breakthrough

Collaboration may

Suggested study design, to be developed with Breakthrough

The study will be in two phases: pilot and research. Phase one, the pilot phase (10 patients), would attempt to show potential positive effects for CRAFT and fine-tune intervention and assessment.

Phase two, research, may consist of 75 participants (25 in each arm). Due to limited research in this area, a power calculation will be conducted on the results of the pilot. Patients will be randomised to either 1) intervention arm, 2) control or 3) normal care.

Patients allocated to the intervention arm will be asked to attend group sessions for tuition and motivation; and to listen to CRAFT’s CD for 40 minutes daily for three months. Simple monthly MBSR and AT adjustments enhance re-programming. Personal silent timers provide practice reminders.

The control group’s ‘quiet time’ will follow the intervention arm’s timing to control for placebo. Both groups will keep a diary to measure programme compliance. Usual care is provided alongside the programme enabling assessment of the alleviation of side effect symptomatology.

Survey instruments may include e.g. Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Rating Scales, MYMOP (Paterson & Britten, 2000), and QOL tool, EORTC QLQ-C30 (Aaronson et al 1993), to be administered at baseline, completion of intervention (3 months), and 6 months after intervention (9/12) to detect any enduring effects.

Email research@crestcancerclinic.com
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References

Benor, D. 1993. Healing Research. (4 vols.) Helix Verlag, Munich.

A primer of complementary and alternative medicine commonly used by cancer patients. Medical Journal of Australia. Vol. 174(2)(pp 88-92), 2001.

The effectiveness of relaxation training in reducing treatment-related symptoms and improving emotional adjustment in acute non-surgical cancer treatment: A meta-analytical review. Psycho-Oncology. Vol. 10(6) (pp 490-502), 2001. M. Hasenbring, Department of Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty, Ruhr-University of Bochum, Univesitatsstr. 150/Geb. MA 0/145, D-44789 Bochum; Germany.

The effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation training in managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in Chinese breast cancer patients: a randomised controlled trial. 2002 Apr;10(3):237-46. Epub 2001 Dec 18, University of Nottingham, School of Nursing, A Floor, Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK.

Shen J, Andersen R, Albert PS, at al. Use of complementary/ alternative therapies by women with advanced-stage breast cancer, BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2002, 2:8.

Smith JE, Richardson J, Hoffman C, Pilkington K. Mindfulness-based stress reduction as supportive therapy in cancer care: a systematic review. Journal of advanced nursing care 52: 315-327, 2005.

Sweeney A., Goble M., SHADES: Study of Hyperactivity and Attention Deficit using Energy Systems, The International Journal of Healing and Caring – On Line, Vol. 6 No. 2., May 2006, 1-21.

Please CLICK HERE If you know someone who may help fund this research project
Or phone Mark Goble (general director) on Mexico 01 55 41 777 072
Email research@crestcancerclinic.com