Polarity therapy and cancer-related fatigue

Abstract

8147 Background: Cancer and its treatment produces fatigue in a majority of patients. Despite the very high prevalence of this problem, no effective treatments are available. Increasing numbers of cancer patients are turning to complementary and alternative medicine practices to find relief. We examined the efficacy of Polarity Therapy (PT), a massage-like intervention classified by NCCAM as an “energy therapy,” in relieving fatigue in female breast cancer patients receiving radiation therapy. Methods: 15 Patients (mean age = 52.5) were randomly assigned to one of three trial groups. Arm 1 patients did not receive any (PT). Patients assigned to Arm 2 received a PT tx on a Tuesday during their 4th week of radiation treatment. Patients assigned to Arm 3 received PT on Tuesdays during \(\underline{\mathrm{both}}\) their 4th and 5th weeks of radiation treatment. Patients completed the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) during the 3rd through 5th weeks of radiation treatment. Each PT session lasted 60–75 minutes with the patient lying fully clothed on a massage table while the same experienced, licensed Polarity Therapist administered all PT treatments. Results: Change scores on the BFI from baseline showed a statistically significant improvement in fatigue in the 10 patients who had PT compared to the 5 patients who did not after the first week (mean change score: one PT tx = 1.0, SD = 1.46; no PT = −0.6, SD = .93; p = .05). Eight of the ten patients showed an improvement in fatigue following their first PT treatment, while only one of five patients in the control group had an improvement in fatigue during the same time frame. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) examining group differences the following week closely approached conventional levels of statistical significance (mean change score: two PT tx = 2.2, SD = 1.03; one PT tx = 1.6, SD = 1.10; no PT = 0.6, SD = .87; p = .08. A significant (p = .03) linear contrast suggested a possible dose effect. Conclusions: This pilot supports a confirmatory trial of Polarity Therapy for cancer- related fatigue. No significant financial relationships to disclose.