OBJECTIVES:
* To test the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment strategies to obtain a first measure of response for the approach(es) used in patients with breast cancer or head, neck, and throat cancer undergoing standard treatment for secondary lymphedema.
* To assess whether this treatment is an acceptable intervention to cancer patients with secondary lymphedema and to their health care professionals.
* To disseminate the data to begin to build the evidence base for using this treatment in the management of lymphedema.
OUTLINE: Patients undergo acupuncture and moxibustion therapy once weekly for 7 treatment (Series 1). After completion of therapy, patients may choose to continue treatment for an additional 6 treatments (Series 2).
Patients complete a set of 4 questionnaires (i.e., sociodemographic, Short-Form-36, Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), and Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP)) at the first treatment and then periodically during study. Patients also complete a series of follow-up questionnaires designed to elicit feedback about their acupuncture experience.
After completion of study treatment, patients are followed at 1 and 3 months.
