Integrative Medicine in Lymphoma Survivors - Trial NCT05982223

Timeline & Enrollment

Primary Outcome

Quality-of-life by EQ-5D scale

Summary

Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph nodes. While some are silent and only require follow-up,
 in cases of aggressive lymphoma, treatment is necessary, and usually includes biological
 drugs, chemotherapy or both. These drugs often cause significant damage to quality-of-life
 and various symptoms that do not always go away. Although the treatments are often limited in
 time and with recovery rates over 60%, most patients are left with a significantly impaired
 quality-of-life and difficulty in returning to their previous life. Many studies, most of
 which were conducted in breast cancer survivors, show the place of complementary medicine in
 the recovery process, both in terms of symptom relief and in improving quality-of-life. Few
 studies have examined the place of complementary and integrative medicine in lymphoma
 survivors. The purpose of the present study is to examine the effect of integrative
 treatments (a combination of conventional and complementary medicine) on quality-of-life of
 lymphoma survivors, on specific symptoms caused by the disease and its treatment, on economic
 and social aspects, as well as on the course of the disease. At the hematological unit of
 Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel, patients with lymphoma who have received
 chemotherapy, biological treatment or both, and have been defined as recovering by the
 treating hematologist, will be offered a choice of different types of complementary medicine
 (acupuncture, herbal medicine, mind-body, movement and touch therapies), emotional treatment
 (conversations with social worker, spiritual guidance), or both, in addition to the medical
 and nursing care offered to all survivors. Patients who prefer not to come to the clinic for
 these treatments will be assigned to the control group and will fill out questionnaires only.
 The duration of the treatments will be six months and follow-up for another two years. The
 type of treatments the patient will receive will be chosen in coordination between the
 integrative team and the patient and according to the symptoms. An assessment will be made on
 the effect of these treatments on quality-of-life of lymphoma survivors (based on
 questionnaires), including physical, psycho-spiritual and economic aspects, as well as on the
 course of the disease.

ICD-10 Classifications