Inhaled Essential Oil Effect on Common QOL Concerns During Cancer Treatment
Inhaled Essential Oil Effect on Common QOL Concerns During Cancer Treatment
This single-blind, randomized controlled trial studies how well inhaled essential oils work
 for common quality of life concerns in patients who are undergoing cancer treatment such as
 chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and/or immunotherapy given through the vein (intravenously).
 Aromatherapy using essential oils, such as ginger essential oil, German chamomile essential
 oil, and bergamot essential oil, may improve quality of life issues such as nausea, anxiety,
 loss of appetite, and fatigue in patients undergoing treatment for cancer.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

 I. To determine if aromatherapy, specifically inhaled essential oil, is beneficial for side
 effects related to cancer treatments involving chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and/or
 immunotherapy administered intravenously.

 II. To describe the effect of inhaled ginger essential oil, German chamomile essential oil,
 and bergamot essential oil on nausea and anxiety of patients receiving chemotherapy, targeted
 therapy, and/or immunotherapy administered intravenously.

 III. To describe the effect of decreased levels of nausea and/or anxiety on levels of
 appetite and/or fatigue.

 IV. To evaluate the acceptability of using a personal inhalation bottle for inhalation of
 essential oils.

 OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 4 groups.

 GROUP I: Patients inhale 7 drops of bergamot essential oil using a personalized inhalation
 bottle three times daily (TID) (morning, midday, and evening) for up to 7 days. Patients also
 use a journal to document symptoms, time of inhalation, and medication use TID for up to 7
 days.

 GROUP II: Patients inhale 7 drops of chamomile essential oil and complete journal as in group
 I.

 GROUP III: Patients inhale 7 drops of ginger essential oil and complete journal as in group
 I.

 GROUP IV (CONTROL): Patients inhale 7 drops of almond essential oil and complete journal as
 in group I.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Gastrointestinal cancers, neuroendocrine cancer, or melanoma or other skin cancers

 -  Receiving chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and/or immunotherapy

 -  Not naive to the treatment

 -  Must be able to read and write English

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Allergies to ragweed, chrysanthemum, chamomile, ginger, bergamot, citrus fruits, tree
 nuts, perfumes

 -  Asthma diagnosis

 -  Patients receiving only octreotide injections

 -  Patients receiving floxuridine (FUDR) via hepatic artery infusion (HAI) pump only