Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Physical Exercise for Climacteric Symptoms in Breast Cancer Patients Experiencing Treatment-Induced Menopause: a Multicenter Randomized Trial
Brief Summary: Background: Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women in the Netherlands. Approximately 11,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer annually, of whom about 30% are below 50 years of age. Premenopausal women with breast cancer treated with chemotherapy or hormonal therapy may experience a premature onset of the menopause. Estrogen deficiency following adjuvant treatments leads to primary endocrine symptoms, including vasomotor and urogenital problems. Secondary symptoms include insomnia due to night sweats, dyspareunia due to vaginal dryness, weight gain, and psychological distress. The symptoms resulting from accelerated estrogen withdrawal can be pronounced and severe, and may adversely affect women's sexual functioning, body image, and overall HRQL. Healthy women who enter natural menopause are often prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to alleviate vasomotor and sexual symptoms. However, due to possible tumor-promoting effects, HRT is contraindicated for patients with a history of breast cancer. For these women, non-hormonal medications are frequently prescribed to treat vasomotor symptoms. Although these medications have been shown to yield moderate symptom relief, they also have a number of bothersome side effects. To alleviate urogenital symptoms, local vaginal moisturizing or estrogen cream is often prescribed. There is growing evidence that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) including relaxation techniques, and physical exercise may effectively reduce vasomotor symptoms in naturally occurring menopause. CBT and relaxation techniques are aimed primarily at the modification of precipitants of hot flushes and at stress management. Physical exercise on a regular basis affects neurotransmitters, which regulate central thermoregulation.

Purpose: The proposed study will evaluate the efficacy of a supportive intervention program in alleviating menopausal symptoms, improving sexual functioning and enhancing the quality of life of younger women (\< 50 years) with breast cancer who have become prematurely menopausal as a result of their treatment. Specifically, the study will evaluate CBT including relaxation (A), physical exercise (B), and a combination of A and B.

Plan of investigation: This multicenter study will employ a prospective, full-factorial design. In total, 325 consenting women will be randomized to group A, group B, group AB or a usual care, 'waiting list' control group (N = 81-81 per group). Upon completion of the study, the patients assigned to the control group will be given the opportunity to undergo either the A or B intervention program. The program will begin with a structured assessment of the target symptoms: hot flushes, night sweating and vaginal dryness. The overriding goal of the intervention is to provide symptomatic women with information skills and support to manage their symptoms more effectively. For group A, the intervention will consist of 6 weekly group CBT sessions of 1.5 hours, of 15 minutes of daily homework and a booster session at 3 months. The CBT will focus on understanding and self-control of menopausal symptoms. Relaxation techniques (paced respiration and muscle relaxation) will focus on the reduction of sympathetic nervous system activity, and are expected to have a positive impact on the frequency and intensity of hot flushes. For group B, the intervention will be an individually tailored, 12 week home-based physical exercise program of 2.5-3 hours per week, with instructions provided in-clinic on 2 occasions, and telephone support on 2 additional, interim occasions. The physical exercise program is intended to enhance fitness levels, in general, and to improve thermoregulation specifically related to hot flushes. Group AB will receive both the CBT and exercise program elements. Women allocated to the intervention groups will be asked to complete a battery of questionnaires assessing menopausal symptoms (the primary outcome), sexuality, body- and self-image, psychological distress and generic HRQL prior to the start of the program (baseline, T0), at 12 weeks (T1) and at 6 months follow-up (T2). Women allocated to the control group will complete the same questionnaire battery at parallel points in time.

Results/ relevance: If demonstrated to be effective, the availability of a structured supportive intervention program (modules A, B or AB) will be a welcome addition to regular medical care offered to breast cancer patients with treatment-induced menopause. It is anticipated that such a program will have direct benefit in terms of symptoms relief and the improvement of patients' HRQL.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

The study sample will be composed of 325 women, younger than 50 years of age, with histologically confirmed primary breast cancer (stages: T1 - T4, N0 - N1 and M0). All women will have been premenopausal at the time of diagnosis, have completed adjuvant chemotherapy (with the exception of herceptin, which can continue to receive) a minimum of 4 months and a maximum of 5 years prior to study entry. Women may currently be receiving adjuvant hormonal therapy. All women should be disease-free at time of study entry. Potentially eligible women will be screened for the presence of at least one of the following 3 menopausal symptoms during the previous 2-month period: hot flushes, sweating and/or vaginal dryness.

Exclusion Criteria:

Women will be excluded from the study if they lack basic proficiency in Dutch, if they have serious cognitive or psychiatric problems, or serious physical comorbidity that would preclude them from participating in a physical exercise program. Since physical exercise may be contraindicated as a treatment for hot flushes in obese women, 49 patients with a BMI ≥ 30 will be excluded from the study. Patients participating in concurrent studies or rehabilitation programs containing psychosocial interventions will also be excluded.
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* histologically confirmed breast cancer.
* mentally competent.
* physician approval to participate in the study.
* free from chronic medical and orthopaedic conditions.
* no current or planned pregnancy.
* ability to read and understand English.
* must be in the post treatment phase of their cancer trajectory.
* willing to accept random assignment.
* not currently participating in another QoL intervention.
* no known or active metastatic disease.
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Breast cancer patients with a BMI 27-45 kg/m2
* Diagnosis of Stage 0-IIIc disease within the past 10 years (except Stage 0, treated with mastectomy only)
* Have completed all local and systemic therapy at least 3 months prior to entry
* Have clearance from their oncologist or current medical provider to participate in a weight control study
* Must be ≤ 75 years old
* Post-menopausal
* Participants must live in a rural area
* Have access to a phone
* Able to participate in the physical activity component of the intervention, i.e., be able to walk briskly unassisted and without serious medical risk
* Weight stable within ten pounds three months prior to entry

Exclusion Criteria:

* Women with insulin-dependent diabetes
* Ongoing participation in a formal weight loss program
* Ongoing use of pharmacotherapy for weight loss
* Ongoing use of medications that seriously affect weight and metabolism (e.g., steroids, phentermine)
* Positive screen for current substance abuse, major depression, or binge eating disorder
* Any cardiac or pulmonary disease preventing participation
* Treatment for any other cancers within the past year
* Previous bariatric surgery
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Woman.
* Between 18 and 65 years of age.
* Diagnosis of histologically confirmed primary breast cancer.
* Received treatment in one of the participating hospitals.
* Completed treatment for breast cancer(with the exception of endocrine therapy).
* Diagnosis of breast cancer between 6 months and 5 years prior to study entry.
* Disease-free at time of study entry.
* Presence of sexuality and intimacy problems.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Lacks basic proficiency in Dutch.
* No access to the internet.
* Serious cognitive or psychiatric problems (i.e. depression, alcohol dependency, or psychotic disorders).
* Severe relationship problems for which the internet-based program is not designed (and which need to be addressed prior to undergoing sex therapy).
* Participation in a concurrent therapy program to alleviate sexuality/intimacy problems.
* Treated for another type of cancer beside breast cancer (with the exception of cervical carcinoma in situ and basal cell carcinoma).

Answer: A