• Find people
• Intranet

News

18/10/2024 - Press release

New Study to Analyze the Effects of Thermal Water on Breast Cancer Patients

The City Council of Caldes de Montbui and the Hospital del Mar Research Institute are collaborating on a new study that will analyze the effects of thermal water on breast cancer patients. For this reason, they are calling for candidates to be part of the study. The Diputació de Barcelona and the Associació Balneària de Catalunya are also collaborating on the trial.

Those who meet the requirements to participate in the study can already submit their application at www.caldesdemontbui.cat/estudicancermama. Candidate selection is expected to begin in early 2025.

The City Council of Caldes de Montbui and the Hospital del Mar Research Institute are promoting a clinical trial related to the effects of thermal water in alleviating severe symptoms in breast cancer patients undergoing dual estrogen suppression therapy. This is the second such trial they are conducting, following a study in 2022 on the effects of thermal water on patients with persistent COVID-19 symptoms.

The local administration and the research center have agreed to this collaboration, with the study expected to start in early 2025. They have also opened a questionnaire for potential participants to submit their application. All the information can be found at www.caldesdemontbui.cat/estudicancermama.

Does thermal water improve the quality of life of breast cancer patients?

The starting point of this project is to demonstrate that mineral-medicinal waters can provide benefits to women with breast cancer treated with aromatase inhibitors, who often suffer from musculoskeletal pain, menopausal symptoms, stress and anxiety, as well as inflammation associated with cancer treatments.

Frequent use of balneotherapy may lead to better sleep, a general sense of well-being, and a reduction in inflammation and joint pain.

The study will evaluate the improvement achieved in 48 women undergoing dual estrogen suppression (forced induction of menopause) who receive treatment at a spa, and compare the results with a control group of 48 patients receiving only the standard treatment. Through quality of life questionnaires and pain evaluation, the study will analyze the effect of thermal water on improving quality of life and reducing musculoskeletal pain.

The call for participants and the study's objectives were presented on Friday, October 18, ahead of World Breast Cancer Day.

The presentation featured Isidre Pineda Moncusí, Mayor of Caldes de Montbui, the municipality promoting the study; Raquel Albiol Gilabert, Deputy for Feminisms and Equality of the Diputació de Barcelona, which is contributing €25,000; Dr. Natàlia Garcia-Giralt, lead researcher of the study from the Musculoskeletal Research Group of the Hospital del Mar Research Institute and the CIBER in Frailty and Healthy Aging (CIBERFES); and Joan Anglí Sallarés, President of the Associació Balneària de Catalunya and director of the center hosting the treatment phase of the study.

Natàlia Garcia-Giralt, Isidre Pineda Moncusí, Raquel Albiol Gilabert and Joan Anglí Sallarés

Candidate patients for the study

To participate in the control group for breast cancer patients, an application must be submitted through the form available at www.caldesdemontbui.cat/estudicancermama, meeting the following requirements.

Applications can be submitted from October 18, 2024, and the form will close when the research team deems appropriate.

The contact with patients and confirmation of participation in the study will take place in early 2025.

REQUIREMENTS:

Women under 55 years old diagnosed with breast cancer undergoing ovarian suppression treatment (e.g., Zoladex) and aromatase inhibitors (e.g., letrozole or exemestane).

Patients experiencing side effects from adjuvant therapy. Symptoms for inclusion due to dual ovarian suppression are: fatigue, muscle pain, joint pain, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and mood disorders.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Chronic illness affecting the musculoskeletal system regardless of the effects of dual ovarian suppression, including a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Patients with anxiety-depressive syndrome requiring prior pharmacological treatment at the start of therapy.

Patients with a fear of water, incontinence, a history of epilepsy, severe venous insufficiency, or a history of syncope.

Balneotherapy is free for participants and will take place at the Balneari Termes Victòria in Caldes de Montbui. The treatments consist of 12 sessions on alternating days in groups of 8 patients. Each group will complete 3 weekly sessions, so after 4 weeks, each group will have completed the treatment.

www.caldesdemontbui.cat/estudicancermama

More news