Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT00175344

Does Scar Massage Improve Postoperative Pain and Function in Women With Breast Cancer?

All patients undergoing breast cancer surgery are left with scars which can significantly affect their physical and psychological well being. Patients with breast cancer, motivated to optimize healing and function, have inquired about the advisability of scar massage after surgery. Although this is a popular technique advocated by physiotherapists and massage therapists to improve pain, range of motion, and scar pliability, there is currently no scientific research to prove the benefits and/or risks of scar massage in breast cancer patients. We propose to study the effect of scar massage on pain, arm function, scar formation, and quality of life in patients with breast cancer. Patients who have had breast cancer surgery and who have been referred to the BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver Island Centre will be offered participation in this research study. To objectively evaluate the effects of scar massage, those who agree to participate will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will be taught to perform self-massage of the scars as soon as the scars have adequately healed. The massage should be done about 10 minutes each day for a total of 6 months. The other group will not be taught self-massage and will be asked to not massage their breast scars. In both groups, we will monitor pain, upper body range of motion, scar characteristics and quality of life using standardized criteria for 2 years from the time of surgery. Problems with infections or blood or fluid accumulation at the scar areas will also be monitored. After 2 years, the information collected will be analyzed and compared to see if there are differences in pain, function or quality of life between the two groups. The results from this study will provide scientific proof of whether or not scar massage after surgery is beneficial for patients with breast cancer.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Breast Cancer Breast Diseases Breast Neoplasms Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Skin Diseases Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

Primary location

BC Cancer Agency - Vancouver Island

Victoria, British Columbia, V8R 6V5, Canada

About this study

This is a prospective randomized controlled trial design. Women who have undergone breast cancer surgery (breast conserving surgery or mastectomy) and who meet the eligibility criteria specified will be offered study participation. After obtaining informed consent, subjects will be randomized between two cohorts: scar massage (intervention group) versus no scar massage (control group). The primary outcome is scar-related pain (scored using the McGill Pain Questionnaire Short Form). The secondary outcomes are: upper body range of motion, physical parameters of the scar (pliability, scar height, vascularity and pigmentation scored using the Vancouver Scar Scale), lymphedema (evaluated by arm circumference measurements) and quality of life (using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT)-B breast cancer-specific instrument).

A sample size of 143 patients per arm was estimated to detect a 30% difference in the primary outcome of postoperative scar-related pain between the intervention and the control groups with 80% statistical power.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients must be able to provide informed consent and be physically able to perform daily self-administered breast scar massage
  • Female or male patients with histologically-confirmed invasive or in situ breast cancer
  • Definitive surgery with BCS or mastectomy +/- axillary dissection or sentinel node sampling
  • Adequate surgical healing as judged by treating oncologist during pre-enrolment assessment
  • Age 18 years or older with ability to provide written informed consent.
  • Ability to start massage within 8 weeks from surgery and comply with daily regimen if randomized to the intervention cohort
  • Ability to comply with not performing massage if randomized to the control cohort

Treatment and study plan

Scar massage.

Procedure

To objectively evaluate the effects of scar massage, those who agree to participate will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will be taught to perform self-massage of the scars as soon as the scars have adequately healed. The massage should be done about 10 minutes each day for a total of 6 months. The other group will not be taught self-massage and will be asked to not massage their breast scars.

Primary outcomes

  1. The primary outcome is scar-related pain (scored using the McGill Pain Questionnaire Short Form).

    Time frame: Two years

Secondary outcomes

  1. The secondary outcomes are: upper body range of motion, physical parameters of the scar (pliability, scar height, vascularity and pigmentation scored using the Vancouver Scar Scale), lymphedema (evaluated by arm circumference measurements) and quality of

    Time frame: Two years

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of British Columbia

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Does Scar Tissue Massage Improve Postoperative Pain and Function in Women With Breast Cancer? A Randomized Controlled Study.

Important dates

Study start
2004
Primary completion
2006
Study completion
2006
First posted
Sep 15, 2005
Registry last updated
Feb 19, 2014

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.