Homeopathy treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients: A randomized controlled trial

2^nd World Congress on Breast Cancer

September 19-21, 2016 Phoenix, USA

Neha Sharma

Warwick Research services, UK
NMP Medical Research Institute, India

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Cancer Sci Ther

Abstract :

Background: Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a common, often overlooked adverse effect of cancer treatment. With poor quality of life, CINV can also cause decline in performance status, functional and physiological impairment. An adjuvant is required particularly where full range of antiemetic treatments is not accessible. Objective: To assess the impact of homeopathy on nausea, vomiting and quality of life in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Design: Double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized was conducted in four centers in Rajasthan, India. The study medication homeopathy or placebos as an adjuvant were administered first three cycles of chemotherapy. VAS nausea score, frequency of vomiting and HRQoL profile was assessed. Results: Ninety two female patients completed the study. The VAS nausea score was significantly lower in homeopathy compared to placebo during acute phase (P=0.000) and sustained for overall treatment effect (P<0.001). Similarly, there was significant effect of homeopathy on vomiting (P<0.001). A slight significant change from baseline for global health status (P<0.05) was detected in placebo group and homeopathy (P<0.0001). A clinically relevant 10 points improvement on role functioning (P=0.002) and appetite loss (P<0.0001) were also documented while patients were on homeopathy. Conclusion: Evidence derived from this study is sufficiently convincing that homeopathy is an effective complementary therapy for CINV. The findings for HRQoL were encouraging with significant improvement in several domains.