Improving the quality of life for people with metastatic breast cancer

Questions To Ask Your Health Care Provider

• What supportive care would you recommend for me?
• How can I find a specialist in palliative care?
• How can I find a specialist in integrative medicine? In nutrition? In acupuncture?
• How will integrative or supportive care services affect my cancer treatment?
• Will my insurance cover palliative care services?

Open Clinical Trials

The following studies are looking at palliative care for people diagnosed with cancer:

• Coaching for Family Caregivers of People with Advanced Cancer from Rural and Minority Communities. This study provides coaching to urban African Americans and white or African American families with cancer who live in the rural Southeast. Navigators working with a palliative care team provide six health coaching sessions either in person or over the phone to help with managing stress and coping, getting and asking for help, improving caregiving skills and decision-making/advance care planning.  
• NCT04733469: EMPOWER 3: Improving Palliative Care Health Literacy and Utilization (EMPOWER 3).  This study is designed to test an educational intervention to help patients understand palliative care, use it and feel better emotionally and physically. 
• NCT04773639: Randomized Clinical Trial of a Multi-Modal Palliative Care Intervention. This study evaluates a new approach to palliative care to address advanced care planning and psychosocial needs of patients with metastatic cancer. 
• NCT06307535: Study of Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy for Caregivers to People With Cancer. Participants will complete questionnaires and will be assigned to receive psychotherapy for 7 sessions. 
• NCT05477784: Cancer Parenting Program for the Enhancement of the Quality of Life of Patients With Advanced Cancer and Their Children (EC-PC). This trial examines the usefulness of two educational programs for parents with late-stage cancer who have a 5- to 17-year-old child. 

 

The following studies look at integrative medical care for people diagnosed with cancer.

Multiple cancer types

• NCT04917796: The Effect of Electroacupuncture on Nerve Pain Caused by Chemotherapy (Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy. This study investigates whether electroacupuncture can improve peripheral neuropathy pain caused by chemotherapy for cancer survivors. 

Breast cancer

• NCT04837820: Effect of Acupuncture on Memory and Thinking Difficulties after Breast Cancer. This study tests whether acupuncture can improve cognitive difficulties and insomnia for survivors of breast cancer. 

Gynecologic cancer

• NCT05053230: A Study Evaluating the Integrative Medicine at Home (IM@HOME) Program in People With Gynecologic Cancer. This study looks at whether the Integrative Medicine at Home program can reduce patients' symptoms (such as tiredness, pain, or insomnia). This program offers virtual (online rather than in-person) group classes focusing on mind-body practice.
• NCT04533763: LIVING WELL: A Web-Based Program to Improve Quality of Life in Ovarian Cancer Survivors. LIVING WELL offers a free research program on mindfulness, coping, and healthy lifestyle skills for ovarian cancer survivors. 

Prostate cancer

• NCT04519879: White Button Mushroom Sup for the Reduction of PSA in Pts With Biochemically Rec or Therapy Naive Fav Risk Prostate Cancer. This phase II trial studies how well white button mushroom supplement works in reducing prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in patients with prostate cancer that has come back (recurrent) or has favorable risk and has not undergone any therapy (therapy naive).