“Deborah agreed to take part in a trial as she was keen to help other cancer patients in the future. "If taking part in a trial means others might be helped then I’m very happy with that."
A study to find out if writing can help people with breast cancer who have hair loss from chemotherapy
Please note - this trial is no longer recruiting patients. We hope to add results when they are available.
Cancer type:
Breast cancer
Status:
Closed
Phase:
Other
This study is to find out if expressive writing can help people with breast cancer who have hair loss from chemotherapy.
Doctors use chemotherapy to treat breast cancer. One of the side effects of chemotherapy can be hair loss.
In this study the researchers want to find out if writing about their thoughts and feelings can help people cope with hair loss from chemotherapy for breast cancer.
Who can enter
You may be able to join this study if are going to the Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre and all of the following apply. You
- Have breast cancer
- Have hair loss caused by chemotherapy
- Have already had a cycle of treatment
- Are at least 18 years old
You cannot join this study if any of these apply. You
- Are not able to speak and write in English
- Are not able to write by hand or type with a keyboard for at least 20 minutes at a time
- Are already taking part in another writing study
- Have a mental health problem
Trial design
The researchers need 120 people who are going to the Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre to join.
This is a randomised study. The people taking part are put into 1 of 2 groups by a computer. Neither you nor your doctor will be able to decide which group you are in.
People in group 1 will write about their thoughts and feelings about their hair loss. This is the expressive writing group.
People in group 2 will write about their home, neighbourhood or city, in a matter of fact way without writing about their thoughts or feelings. This is called the neutral writing group
You will write by hand or type for 20 minutes a day for 4 days in a row. You do this at home. The researchers will ask you to send them what you write. You don’t have to send in your writing, you can still take part in the study. If you do send them what you write, the researchers will not show what you have written to anyone else.
They will ask you to fill in a questionnaire
- When you agree to take part
- 2 weeks later
- At 1 month
- At 3 months
The questionnaire takes 20 minutes to fill in. It will ask about side effects and how you’ve been feeling. This is called a quality of life study.
The researchers will send the questionnaires to you with a stamped self addressed envelope for their return. If you prefer you may be able to do the questionnaire on line. You can talk to a member of the research team about this.
Hospital visits
There are no hospital visits if you decide to take part in this study.
Side effects
The research team do not expect there to be any side effects from taking part.
Recruitment start:
Recruitment end:
How to join a clinical trial
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Please note - unless we state otherwise in the summary, you need to talk to your doctor about joining a trial.
Chief Investigator
Melissa Pilkington
Supported by
Breast Cancer Campaign
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
University of the West of England
Freephone 0808 800 4040
Last review date
CRUK internal database number:
Oracle 12072
Please note - unless we state otherwise in the summary, you need to talk to your doctor about joining a trial.
Deborah wanted to help other breast cancer patients in the future
