TY  - JOUR
AU  - Picchi, Marco
AU  - Di Stefano, Mariella
AU  - Nurra, Linda
AU  - Rossi, Antonella
AU  - Ventura, Leonardo
AU  - Noberasco, Cristina
AU  - Rossi, Elio
PY  - 2018
DA  - 2018/09/03
TI  - Homeopathy and Complementary Integrative Medicine, Dietary and Lifestyle Advices to Reduce Adverse-Effects of Anti-Cancer Therapy: A Cohort Study with Breast Cancer Patients
JO  - OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine
SP  - 017
VL  - 03
IS  - 03
AB  - Background. To face adverse-effects of anti-cancer treatment, the Homeopathic Clinic of  Lucca, in collaboration with the Oncology Department, has set up an Integrative Oncology Outpatient Unit in the Public Hospital Campo di Marte, 
Aim. To present the results of complementary medicine (CM) treatment targeted towards reducing the adverse effects of anti-cancer therapy and cancer symptoms and improving the quality of life of breast cancer patients.
Methods. This is a retrospective observational study conducted on 204 breast cancer patients (all females except 1 male) were consecutively visited from September 2013 to December 2017, mean age 54.8 (35-88) years. Almost all patients were referred by their medical oncologists. The intensity of symptoms was evaluated according to a grading system from G0 (absence of symptoms) to G1 (slight), G2 (moderate), and G3 (strong), as evaluated by the patient in conjunction with the doctor during the course of the visits. The severity of radiodermatitis was evaluated with the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) scale. Homeopathy was the main prescribed therapy, either exclusive (47.5%) or integrated with other complementary medicines (41.7%), mainly botanicals and acupuncture. The Banerji protocol was applied in 3.4% of patients. 
Results. The most frequently treated symptoms were the adverse-effects of anti-cancer therapies (84.3%): endocrine therapy (36.3%), chemotherapy (33.3%), radiotherapy (9.8%) and  surgery (4.9%). The symptoms caused by cancer disease were 25.5%, and comorbidity 21.6%. Comparison of the clinical conditions before and after treatment allowed to observe a significant amelioration of the following symptoms: hot flashes (p < 0.01); nausea (p < 0.01); fatigue (p < 0.01); anxiety (p < 0.05); depression (p < 0.01); insomnia (p < 0.01); mucositis (p < 0.01); joint pain (p < 0.01) .  
Conclusions. A clinic of integrative oncology is an opportunity to reduce adverse-effects of  anti-cancer therapy and to ameliorate cancer patients’ quality of life.
SN  - 2573-4393
UR  - https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.icm.1803017
DO  - 10.21926/obm.icm.1803017
ID  - Picchi2018
ER  -