Enhanced Pain Coping in Cancer (EPIC): A Study of Managing Treatment-Related Joint Pain in Breast Cancer Survivors

Summary

The researchers are doing this study to compare two different types of group therapy and find out whether they are effective approaches for helping breast cancer survivors manage joint pain caused by aromatase inhibitors (AI). This type of joint pain is called AI-associated arthralgia, or AIA, and it is common in people taking AIs. AIA and its associated symptoms can make some people decide to stop taking their medication. The study will look at the effects of two different types of group therapy on participants' cancer-related symptoms (such as pain, fatigue, and anxiety), their ability to continue taking AIs on a regular schedule, and their quality of life. We will measure participants' quality of life by having them fill out questionnaires. Both groups will have 2-hour group therapy sessions once a week, over the course of 8 weeks. During the sessions, you will be in a group of 6-10 participants, who may be a mixture of patients from both MSK and University of California San Diego (UCSD).

Eligibility

Age range

18+ years

Sex

Female

Healthy volunteers

No

Interventions

• Behavioral
  Mindfulness Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE)

  eight weekly two-hour MORE sessions

• Other
  Questionnaires

  filled out up to 24 weeks

• Behavioral
  Supportive Psychotherapy (SG)

  eight weekly two-hour SG sessions

Locations (9)