Therapies for cognitive impairment in breast cancer survivors treated with chemotherapy

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effect of therapies for cognitive impairment on patients’ perceived cognitive function in breast cancer survivors with chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment. Method: A literature search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library was conducted up to April 2019. Search terms included breast cancer, chemotherapy, and cognitive impairment. Result: Six randomized controlled trials with a total of 305 patients were included in this review. A total of 6 randomized controlled trials using various treatments (Tibetan sound meditation, donepezil, memory and attention adaptation training, aerobic exercise, acupuncture, Qigong) for chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment met the eligibility criteria and were included. This review showed that meditative interventions (Tibetan sound meditation, Qigong) and cognitive therapy (memory and attention adaptation training) may partially improve some aspects of patients’ perceived (self-reported) cognitive functioning, particularly patients’ perceived cognitive impairment and ability. Conclusion: In this systematic review, the results showed that meditative interventions (Tibetan sound meditation, Qigong) and cognitive therapy (memory and attention adaptation training) may be optional therapies. We hope to have more randomized controlled trials to support this result in the future.

Effectiveness of Complementary Therapies in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review

“…Regarding PMR and guided imagery therapy, Charalambous et al [36] and Stoerkel et al [43] agree that its use improves fatigue and pain but contradict each other in terms of anxiety, which is found to decrease in the RCT by Stoerkel et al [43] and has nonsignificant results in the RCT by Charalambous et al [36]. This result is due to the fact that PMR and guided imagery were not the only therapies used in the study by Stoerkel et al [43], as other therapies such as self-hypnosis, acupressure and meditation also played a role, making the set of different therapies more effective, as we can observe in the studies by Araujo et al [46] and Tacón et al [47], where it is highlighted that meditation yields positive effects like lower anxiety levels in patients with cancer, in addition to other factors, as the study by Zhang et al also considers [48].…”

Tai Chi, Qigong and the Treatment of Disease

“…Breast cancer patients used tai chi or qigong exercises to alleviate sleep problems [89] and pain [90]. Zhang, et al did a study on the effects of qigong exercises on cognitive impairment in breast cancer patients [91]. Another study examined the effectiveness of exercised-based interventions in reducing fatigue, dyspnea and depression in lung cancer patients [92].…”

“…Other studies involved chronic fatigue syndrome [95], cognitive impairment [96][97][98][99][100][101], COPD [102].…”

Tai Chi, Qigong and the Treatment of Cancer

“…The result was a positive outcome for both physical and psychological health recovery. Numerous other studies also found that the practice of tai chi qigong exercises had a beneficial effect on various aspects of breast cancer patient survival [67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85]. Most of those studies limited their samples to females with breast cancer.…”