Evidence-based Research On Postoperative Adverse Reactions Of Non-drug Complementary And Alternative Medicine For Breast Cancer

Objective Currently, numerous studies have been conducted on post-operative breast cancer treatment with adjuvant drug-free complementary and alternative medicines. However, thus far, no comprehensive evidence-based research system and conclusions have been established. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic evaluation on the randomized controlled trials(RCT)to ascertain the side effects and adverse reactions caused by several drug-free complementary and alternative therapies, including yoga, massage, tai chi, acupuncture, and mindfulness therapy and to assess their intervention effects as an adjuvant therapy for treating post-operative side effects and adverse reactions in breast cancer patients. Using the information available, a prospective cohort study was conducted for preliminary assessment of the comprehensive efficacy of short-term mindfulness therapy, which utilizes pressure-release psychotherapy and relaxation training to alleviate negative emotions and improve the quality of life in patients undergoing chemotherapy after breast cancer surgery. We proposed a strategy of drug-free complementary and alternative therapy as an adjuvant treatment for breast cancer and provided the evidence-based reference for clinical application of drug-free complementary and alternative medicine as an adjuvant therapy for treating post-operative side effects and adverse reactions in breast cancer patients.Methods A computational search of the following databases was performed: China Academic Journal Network Publishing Database(CAJD, 1994–August 2015), China Science and Technology Journal Database(CSTJ, 1989–August 2015), China Biology Medicine Disc(DBM,1978–August 2015), Wanfang Data Journal and Article Resources(1997–August 2015), Chinese Science Citation Database(CSCD, 1989–August 2015), Traditional Chinese Medical Database(1994–August 2015), Science Citation Index Expanded(SCI-EXPANDED)(2000–August 2015),EMBASE.com(1974–August 2015), Web of Science, PubMed(1966–August 2015), Cochrane Library(till August 2015), Psyc INFO(formerly PsychLit)(1887–August 2015), Elsevier(tillAugust 2015), Springer(till August 2015), Conference Paper Database, China Proceedings of Conference Full-text Database(CPCD, 1994–December 2015), Wanfang Data Conference Paper Resources(1990–August 2015), Chinese and International Conference Paper Database, Thesis Database, China Doctoral Dissertations Full-text Database(CFDF, 1994–August 2015), China Master’s Theses Full-text Database(CMFD, 1994–August 2015), and ProQuest Dissertations and Thesis Database(PQDT, till August 2015). In addition, the ongoing breast cancer clinical trial registry platform and related academic organizations’ websites were searched to obtain all RCTs with drug-free complementary and alternative therapies that can be used as adjuvant treatments for post-operative side effects and adverse responses after breast cancer surgeries. Studies were selected and included for analysis based on pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria, to compare the respective efficacy of drug-free complementary and alternative therapies as adjuvant treatment for post-operative side effects and adverse responses after breast cancer surgeries. The assessment was performed according to the quality evaluation standard of Cochrane systematic review manual 5.2. Meta-analysis was conducted using Stata software, version 10.0. 2). A prospective cohort study was conducted to objectively evaluate the clinical efficacy of a short-term mindfulness therapy with pressure release psychotherapy and relaxation training for alleviating negative emotions and improving the quality of life of patients undergoing chemotherapy after breast cancer surgery. The factors affecting this therapy were also analyzed.SPSS 22.0 was used for statistical analyses.Results 1). A total of 68 RCTs were included for analysis. The meta-analysis showed that compared with the control group undergoing conventional rehabilitation, massage therapy can significantly relieve the symptoms of fatigue and anger in breast cancer patients undergoing post-operative treatment; yoga can significantly alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms, depression,anxiety, and improve the quality of life, while tai chi can significantly improve upper limb grip strength, elbow flexion, elbow extension abduction, and upper limb horizontal abduction muscle strength. Acupuncture can significantly relieve upper limb muscle stiffness and mindfulness pressure-release therapy can significantly alleviate anxiety, depression, perceived stress symptoms,and improve the quality of life of breast cancer patients undergoing post-operative treatment.2). Thirty-four patients were enrolled in the prospective cohort study, and 16 received short-term mindfulness therapy utilizing pressure-release psychotherapy and relaxation training,while 17 served as control. The study results suggested that breast cancer patients undergoing post-operative chemotherapy showed obvious adverse reactions, poor functional status in overall quality of life, severe anxiety, and depression symptoms. Age, marital status, and different clinical stages are the factors that influence negative emotion. Negative emotion, including anxiety anddepression, is a factor that influences the overall quality of life. Age and different clinical stages influence the symptoms of post-operative fatigue to a large extent. Short-term mindfulness therapy utilizing pressure-release psychotherapy and relaxation training can effectively relieve body fatigue, dyspnea, emotional disorder, anxiety, and depression symptoms in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and improve patient quality of life to a certain extent.Conclusion 1). The results of the system evaluation showed that drug-free complementary and alternative therapies are soothing and are also effective in alleviating side effects and adverse reactions associated with post-operative treatments of breast cancer surgery, which can improve to a certain extent the physiological functions and emotional behaviors in breast cancer patients, as well as improve the patient overall quality of life more effectively compared with the traditional rehabilitation method. 2). A prospective cohort study suggests that short-term mindfulness therapy utilizing pressure-release psychotherapy and relaxation training are effective in alleviating fatigue,dyspnea, anxiety, and depression in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Mindfulness therapy also improves the quality of life in breast cancer patients to a certain level.