Effect of Chamomile and Olive Oils on Volume, Range of Motion, and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background

Lymphedema is one of the disturbing complications after breast cancer treatment that may affect the quality of life (QoL) of breast cancer survivors (BCSs).

Methods

In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 63 patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) were included in the study. Group A received standard complete decongestive therapy (CDT), group B received CDT with olive oil, and group C received CDT with chamomile and olive oil. Lymphedema volume and range of motion (RoM) were measured at the beginning of the study and at sessions 7, 14, and 21. Patients' QoL was measured using the Short Form 36 questionnaire at baseline, at the end of the trial, and 1 month after the trial. For statistical analysis, SPSS software with a significance level of p < 0.05 was used.

Results

The mean age of patients was 55.4 ± 10.1 years. Although the volume of lymphedema was reduced and RoM was increased in all groups, there was no significant difference between the three groups. However, the change in volume and RoM was more evident in group C. Moreover, the effect of interventions on health-related QoL dimensions in all groups was not statistically significant. However, in some dimensions, the score did not decrease in group B during follow-up.

Conclusions

Chamomile and olive oils are tolerable for BCSs with BCRL; however, adding this intervention to CDT seems to have no superiority to CDT alone.