Feasibility Trial of ScarWork for Post-breast Surgery Pain Syndrome.
Millions of women in the UK get breast cancer, and often have surgery and radiotherapy. While these treatments are good, some women experience ongoing breast pain for months or even years afterwards. This pain can really affect their daily lives, but treatment options are limited. ScarWork is a gentle hands-on therapy that aims to improve how scars feel and look, reduce pain, and help healing. It's been around for a while, but we don't know much about how well it works for breast pain after cancer treatment. This small study is the first step to find out if ScarWork could be a useful treatment. Researchers want to know if it can be offered through the NHS, if women find it helpful, and if it's worth doing a bigger study in the future. Participants will either continue their usual care or receive ScarWork alongside it.
At a glance
What is this study about?
Breast cancer is a common illness affecting many women in the UK. Treatment often involves surgery and sometimes radiotherapy. While these treatments are really important for getting rid of cancer, they can sometimes cause problems afterwards.
One of these problems can be ongoing breast pain, which some women experience for months or even years after their treatment has finished. This pain isn't just a minor ache; it can be bad enough to affect daily activities, mood, and overall wellbeing. Despite how common it is – some studies suggest up to 1 in 3 women still have breast pain three years after treatment – there aren't many specific treatments available for it. Often, women are told the pain might go away on its own or are given basic painkillers which don't always help much. This pain can come from scars, damaged tissues, or changes to nerves caused by the surgery and radiotherapy.
This study is looking into a gentle treatment called ScarWork. It's a type of hands-on therapy, developed in America, where a therapist uses very light touch on scar tissue. The aim of ScarWork is to make scars feel better, look better, reduce pain and tightness around the area, and help the body heal. While ScarWork has been available in the UK since 2014, we don't have much scientific research to show how well it works for pain after breast cancer treatment. Because we don't know much, this small study is an important first step. It will help us understand if ScarWork could be a useful option for women experiencing this type of pain, if it could be offered in hospitals like the NHS, and if we should do a larger, more detailed study in the future to fully test its benefits.
Key takeaways
- This study evaluates ScarWork, a gentle therapy, for breast pain after cancer treatment.
- It's a first step to see if the therapy is effective and can be offered in the NHS.
- Participants will be randomly assigned to receive ScarWork or usual care.
- The study involves questionnaires about pain levels and experiences.
- It aims to help design a larger study in the future if promising.
- You can withdraw from the study at any time without affecting your medical care.
Who may be eligible?
To join this study, women need to be over 18 and have had early-stage breast cancer surgery which aimed to cure their cancer. It's important that their radiotherapy finished at least six months ago, and their cancer is currently in remission, meaning there are no signs of it locally in the breast area.
You should also be experiencing a noticeable level of pain that you would rate as 3 or more out of 10 on a pain scale. You need to speak English well enough to communicate, be able to understand what you're agreeing to, and be willing to attend regular appointments at the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine (RLHIM).
However, you won't be able to join if you've had problems with your surgical wound during healing, if you've had breast surgery for reasons other than breast cancer, or if you've already had ScarWork therapy. A diagnosis of lymphoedema (swelling), other serious health conditions that might interfere with the study, or receiving physiotherapy specifically for your breast pain right now would also mean you can't take part.
- Are you over 18?
- Did you have breast cancer surgery that aimed to cure your cancer?
- Did your radiotherapy finish more than 6 months ago?
- Is your breast cancer currently in remission (no local signs of disease)?
- Do you have persistent breast pain that you'd rate as 3 out of 10 or higher?
- Are you able to attend appointments at the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine?
This is a guide only — the research team will confirm whether you can take part.
What does participation involve?
If you join this study, you'll be randomly placed into one of two groups, like flipping a coin. One group will continue with your usual care, while the other group will receive up to five sessions of ScarWork therapy in addition to your usual care. These ScarWork sessions would take place at the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine.
Everyone in the study will be asked to fill out short questionnaires about their pain and other symptoms at different times: before any treatment in the study begins, again after the treatment period, and one month later. There are no specific medications given as part of this study. After you've completed the questionnaires, some participants will also be invited to have a short chat over the phone or online to talk about their experiences. The total duration of your active participation, including follow-up questionnaires, would likely be a few months.
Potential risks and benefits
Locations (1)
- Royal London Hospital for Integrated MedicineLondon, United Kingdom· Recruiting
Common questions
What is ScarWork therapy?
ScarWork is a gentle, light-touch therapy that therapists use on scar tissue to help it feel better, look better, and reduce pain.
Who can join this study?
Women over 18 who have had early breast cancer surgery and radiotherapy, have ongoing breast pain, and finished radiotherapy at least 6 months ago, may be able to join.
Will I definitely get ScarWork therapy if I join?
No, you'll be randomly placed into one of two groups: one gets ScarWork plus usual care, and the other gets usual care only.
Where would the ScarWork treatment take place?
If you are in the ScarWork group, your sessions would take place at the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine (RLHIM).
What information will I need to provide?
You'll be asked to fill out some short questionnaires about your pain and other symptoms before, during, and after the study period. Some may also have a short interview.
How to find out more
Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.
Interested in taking part?
Discussion
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