Study on the Impact of Electroacupuncture Combined With Self-Acupressure on the Quality of Life of Patients With Early-Stage Breast Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy

This study is a parallel-group, blinded (participant, evaluator, and statisticians), randomized controlled trial to investigate the effect of electroacupuncture combined with self-acupressure on the quality of life of early-stage breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Patients in each group will receive electroacupuncture or sham electroacupuncture during the first week of the chemotherapy cycle. They will receive self-acupressure or sham acupressure during the second and third weeks of the chemotherapy cycle. Participants will be asked to complete the EQ-5D-5L and FACT-B scales. Primary and secondary outcomes will be assessed.

Inclusion criteria

• Aged 18 years or older and aged 75 years or younger, inclusive. with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-2;
• Patients who have not received prior chemotherapy and are scheduled to receive at least 4 cycles of adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy or combination targeted therapy;
• Normal organ function with platelets ≥ 100*10^9/ L, hemoglobin ≥ 90 g/L, serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dl (133 mmol/L), or creatinine clearance ≥ 60 ml/min, total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN), alanine aminotransferase ≤ 2.5 times ULN, and aspartate aminotransferase ≤ 2.5 times ULN;
• Premenopausal women need appropriate contraception;
• Ability to understand the study well and complete the study questionnaire.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with needle phobia or allergy to stainless steel needles; and
• Current diagnosis of mental illness (e.g., major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or schizophrenia);
• History of autoimmune diseases, blood disorders, or organ transplantation, or long-term use of hormones or immunosuppressants;
• Comorbid bleeding disorders or thyroid dysfunction;
• Implantation of a pacemaker; pregnancy or breastfeeding;
• A plan for adjuvant radiotherapy in the upcoming chemotherapy cycle;
• Current active infection;
• Acupuncture treatment within the last four weeks;
• Patients who are allergic to the drugs used;
• Use of other Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) techniques such as Chinese herbs in the next chemotherapy cycle.