Breast Cancer Haven

• Research at the Haven
  • Research at the Haven
• Evaluation of the Breast Cancer Haven Programme
• Mindful Based Stress Reduction Programme (MBSR)
• Proposal to Support Delivery of the Cancer Reform Strategy
• Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing (MYCaW)
• Acupuncture Research Study
• Research Publications from Breast Cancer Haven
• Clinical Framework and Evidence Base
  • Clinical Framework and Evidence Base
• 1000 people Project - National Cancer Survivorship Initiative

Acupuncture Research Study

Breast Cancer Haven is collaborating with Professor Alex Molassiotis at the University of Manchester on a large clinical trial called the Acu.fatigue study, funded by Breakthrough Breast Cancer, to investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture for managing fatigue in breast cancer patients. The study is taking place at various centres including the Christie Hospital, Manchester, the Royal Marsden Hospitals and Guy's Hospital in London, and at the Breast Cancer Haven centres in London, Leeds and Hereford.

You may be potentially eligible to take part in the study if you have completed chemotherapy treatment up to 5 years previously, and experience moderate to severe fatigue (5 or more on a scale from 0-10).
The study is a randomised controlled trial, which means that if you choose to take part you will be allocated by chance to receive either acupuncture or usual care,

If you are allocated to the acupuncture group, you will be asked to attend an acupuncture clinic at one of our Havens once a week for six weeks.  All reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed.  After six weeks you will be re-allocated, by chance, to continue receiving acupuncture, learning to self-acupuncture or to receive usual care.  This will be for another four weeks. Therefore the total time in active participation will be 10 weeks.

If you are not allocated to the acupuncture group (1 in 3 chance), you will receive a booklet providing you with information about how to manage your fatigue. As part of the study you will be required to complete some questionnaires to measure your progression in order for us to compare the different groups.

If you are interested in taking part in this study, or wish to find out more, please email Dr Barbara Baker at  Breast Cancer Haven (bsb@breastcancerhaven.org.uk) or phone her on 020 7384 0044 and ask for a Patient Information Sheet.

Please note that participation is voluntary and you are free to withdraw at any time. This will not affect your care at the Haven.