How Acupuncture Helps Breast Cancer Patients
Breast cancer is one of the scariest things that can happen to a family. It has the power to rob patients of both their physical and spiritual confidence. Even worse, many people living with breast cancer stop believing they can get better.
I lost my dad to cancer, and know exactly how devastating the disease can be. That’s why I have spent most of my professional life treating athletes, working professionals, and cancer patients. And acupuncture, I’ve found, can relieve a number of cancer and chemotherapy-related symptoms.
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I wanted to remind my readers that I started this blog as a way to document the medical literature surrounding acupuncture as a treatment for cancer symptoms, and to share the most up-to-date research with my patients.
Acupuncture as a Treatment for Breast Cancer Patients
Researchers and practitioners have been interested in acupuncture’s effectiveness as a breast cancer treatment for a very long time. If anything, interest in the topic is greater than ever before. There are a number of great studies from the past few years that examine just how it works. Here are two of them:
1. Acupuncture reduces hot flashes in women with breast cancer
A 2012 study found that acupuncture can significantly reduce hot flashes in breast cancer patients.
38 postmenopausal women with breast cancer participated in the study conducted by Linkoping University, Sweden. They were each given random acupuncture treatment as well as applied relaxation. Thirty-one of the women completed all 12 weeks of treatment and six months of follow-up.
Hot flashes were reduced by 50% compared to a control group, and benefits remained for up to six months after treatment. Self-reported psychological well-being was also high.
2. Acupuncture for discomfort and pain in postoperative breast cancer
In an even more recent 2015 study conducted in China by Western researchers, acupuncture was shown to be a feasible treatment option for postoperative breast cancer patients.
Twenty adult breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy or breast reconstruction procedures were recruited and offered daily acupuncture during their hospital stay. Treatment effectiveness was measured using Symptom Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Was-it-Worth-it (WIWI) questionnaire.
Across the board, acupuncture was found to lower anxiety, muscular discomfort, and pain.
What about acupuncture for lymphedema?
Next week, I’ll go over a common symptom in breast cancer patients—lymphedema. Can acupuncture be effectively used to treat the symptoms of lymphedema as well?
