Pilot Testing of CAN Digital Apps to Improve the Quality of Life of Cancer and Benign Brain Tumor Survivors

Abstract

Objective: Vestibular Schwannoma (VS) and breast cancer patients experience negative Quality of Life (QoL) impacts. VS patients struggle with mood disorders, whereas breast cancer patients experience treatment-related cognitive impairment. Improving QoL in these patient populations is the objective of these digital app technologies involving music, art and robotic pet therapies. Methods: Active Receptive Music for Cancer (ARMCan) recruited ten breast cancer patients who were randomized into an interactive music therapy group and a receptive music therapy group, occurring daily for 15 minutes over 6 months. The primary endpoint was Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Cognitive Function (FACT-Cog) scores. Sensory Integrative Therapy with Art and Robots (SITAR) recruited ten VS patients to undergo art therapy alone or art therapy and robotic companion therapy weekly for twelve weeks. One patient in each group completed the study. The primary endpoint was Mental Health Quality of Life Questionnaire (MHQOL) surveys with a secondary endpoint of Hamilton Depression scale (HAM-D). Results: For ARMCan, integrative music therapy led to an increase in FACT-Cog scores of 44.2% and 12.4% for the interactive (n = 3) and receptive music (n = 3) groups, respectively. For SITAR, there were 106% and 63.6% increases in MHQOL scores for the art intervention (n = 1) and combined therapy groups (n = 1), respectively. There was an average decrease of 80% in HAM-D scores. Conclusion: This pilot study primarily demonstrates feasibility for digital applications to improve QoL in breast cancer and VS patients. There is preliminary data to support that integrative music therapy can improve treatment-induced cognitive impairment in breast cancer patients. Similarly, art and robotic animal companion therapy may improve overall QoL and reduce depressive symptoms in vestibular schwannoma patients.