Potential Benefits Of Hypnosis Sedation On Different Modalities Of Breast Cancer Treatment

Background: In oncology, hypnosis has been used for pain relief in metastatic patients but rarely for induction of anaesthesia. Material and methods: Between January 2010 and February 2014, 220 patients from our breast clinic (Cancer Center - Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc - Universite catholique de Louvain) were included in an observational, non randomized study approved by our local ethics committee. 110 consecutive patients underwent breast surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy +/- axillary lymph node dissection or sentinel lymph node biopsy) while on general anaesthesia (group I) and 110 consecutive patients underwent the same surgical procedures while on hypnosis sedation (group II). The stages and the tumor characteristics were well balanced between the two groups. After surgery, 28 patients received chemotherapy in group I and 27 patients in group II. Radiotherapy was administered to 96 patients of group I and 95 patients of group II. Currently, 83 patients of group I and 82 patients of group II are receiving endocrine therapy. Different parameters were studied for each treatment modality. Results: Duration of hospitalization was statistically significantly reduced in group II vs. group I (3.3 days vs. 4.4 days) (CI 95% range: -1.48 -0,72, p=0,0000000578) for all surgical procedures. The same results were observed for mastectomies alone (3.1 vs. 5.3 days) (CI 95 % range: -3,19 -1,31, p=0,0002 ) and for lumpectomies (3.1 vs. 4.3 days) (CI 95 % range: -1,024 -0,364, p=0,00065). The number of post-mastectomy lymph punctures was reduced in group II (1 to 3 (median value n=1.6) vs. group I (2 to 5 (median value n=3.1, p=0.01), as was the quantity of lymph removed (103 ml versus 462.7 ml) (p=0,0297) in the group of mastectomies. Concerning chemotherapy, the incidence of asthenia was statistically decreased (p=0.015) in group II. There was a statistically non significant trend towards a decrease in the incidence of nausea/vomiting and muscle pain in group II (respectively p=0.1 and p=0.2). The frequencey of severe radiodermitis (p=0.01) and post-radiotherapy asthenia (p=0.01) were significantly reduced in group II. Finally, compliance to endocrine therapy was improved in group II (p=0.05), while incidence of hot flashes (p=0,00029), joint or muscle pain (p=0,000139) and asthenia (p=0,00002) were statistically significantly decreased in group II. Discussion: Hypnosis sedation exerts beneficial effects on nearly all modalities of breast cancer treatment. The absence of a significant benefit for chemotherapy-induced nausea/vomiting and muscle pain observed is probably due to the small number of patients receiving chemotherapy in our study. Conclusion: Benefits of hypnosis sedation on breast cancer treatment are very encouraging and further promote the concept of integrative oncology. Citation Format: Martine Berliere, Sarah Lamerant, Philippe Piette, Aurore Lafosse, Laurence Delle Vigne, Fabienne Roelants, Christine Watremez, Marie-Agnes Docquier, Lafita Fellah, Isabelle Leconte, Francois Duhoux. Potential benefits of hypnosis sedation on different modalities of breast cancer treatment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-18-03.