The diagnosis and treatment of cancer are associated with distress and the fear of disease progression, recurrence, and death. Cancer patients are also apprehensive about decreases in their quality of life (QOL), including side effects of treatment, physical changes, and changes in social relationships. Research suggests that stress-reduction programs tailored to the cancer setting may help patients cope with the acute effects of treatment and improve QOL after treatment. Qigong is a structured program that incorporates stress-reduction techniques including controlled breathing, visual imagery, and meditation. It also incorporates gentle movements that may be particularly useful during radiation therapy. In this study, we will pilot-test and examine the feasibility and usefulness of conducting a qigong program with cancer patients at our sister-institution Cancer Hospital, Fudan University (CHFU), Shanghai, China.
This protocol is part of a larger grant funded by the National Cancer Institute to create an international research center to study Traditional Chinese Medicine. All of the patients enrolled in this study will be seen at the CHFU, our sister institution in Shanghai. This protocol will be overseen by the Fudan University Institutional Review Board (IRB00002408) which has Federal Wide Assurance through the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (Approved: April 25, 2002). The research nurses have received training at MDACC and will receive regular oversight by MDACC personnel.
Our specific aims in the proposed study are to:
1.1 Pilot-test a qigong program to determine the acceptability and feasibility of conducting qigong with cancer patients.
1.2 Conduct an initial evaluation of whether participation in the qigong program improves patient quality of life and psychological wellbeing.
1.3 Determine the feasibility of obtaining blood samples to assess immune function and saliva samples to assess hormone function. |