Aromatherapy for Integrated Cancer Care

This study will evaluate the ability of four aromatherapy scents (ginger, lavender, orange, jojoba) to reduce the severity of seven chemotherapy-induced symptoms (nausea, vomiting, pain, anxiety/distress, fatigue, sleep difficulties, and lack of appetite). Subjects will participate in the study for two or three chemotherapy cycles. The first cycle is a non-intervention baseline cycle during which subjects rate the severity of the seven different symptoms from 0 to 10 for seven consecutive days during their first chemotherapy study cycle. The next one or two cycles are intervention cycle(s) using the assigned randomized aromatherapy. The subjects will rate the severity of seven different symptoms from 0 to 10 each day the aromatherapy inhaler during one or two chemotherapy cycles (i.e., 7 consecutive days during each chemotherapy cycle) and report if they felt the aromatherapy was helping with symptoms compared to the previous cycle. At the end of the study, the participants will be asked about his/her satisfaction with the aromatherapy used during the study. All of these measurements will provide a better understanding of the effectiveness of aromatherapy for symptom management.

Inclusion criteria

• a) Male and female subjects, at least 8 years of age, prescribed chemotherapy for cancer. (NOTE: Only non-pregnant females are eligible). University of Rochester will enroll young adults (i.e., 21-39 years) and adults (i.e., 40 years and older). RPCI will enroll adolescents (i.e., 8-20 years) and young adults (i.e., 21-39 years).

b) Scheduled to receive two or more cycles of chemotherapy. (NOTE: Subjects may have already started chemotherapy, but must have at least three chemotherapy cycles remaining in their current prescribed course.)

c) Day 1 of each chemotherapy cycle must be separated from Day 1 of the next chemotherapy cycle by at least 10 days.

d) All cancer types and chemotherapy regimens are eligible. (NOTE: Monoclonal antibody therapies are allowed if administered in combination with chemotherapy).

e) The chemotherapy regimen must be the same regimen for all study cycles. For example, if a subject with breast cancer was prescribed TAC for Study Cycle 1, the subject must receive TAC for Study Cycles 2 and 3.

f) Any number of chemotherapy administrations per week during a chemotherapy treatment cycle is allowed.

g) Subjects must agree to discontinue their current use of aromatherapy for symptom management during the course of the study. They must solely use the jojoba and aromatherapy inhalers provided by the study during the course of the study.

h) University of Rochester will enroll subjects who are able to read and understand English or Spanish. RPCI will enroll subjects who are able to read and understand English. All subjects must be able to provide informed consent in order to participate in this study.

Exclusion criteria

• Subjects < 8 years old are not eligible for participation in this study.
• Pregnant females are ineligible for the study because pregnancy is a contraindication for chemotherapy and exposure to essentials oils.
• Subjects with more than six weeks between chemotherapy treatment cycles are not eligible.
• Concurrent radiation therapy or interferon treatment is not allowed.
• Subjects with any known allergy to ginger, lavender, orange, citrus of any kind, jojoba, or essential oils are not eligible.