Category: Cancer Care

An American research team has found preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of acupuncture in reducing the incidence of high grade chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, in women being treated for breast cancer. A total of 104 stage I-III breast cancer patients receiving weekly paclitaxel (Taxol) treatment, were screened for symptoms of peripheral neuropathy (usually manifesting as numbness and tingling in the hands and feet). Of these, 37 developed symptoms, and 27 were then given acupuncture. Of the latter, 26 completed chemotherapy treatment without a significant worsening of neuropathy symptoms.

The researchers conclude acupuncture is safe and shows preliminary evidence of effectiveness in reducing the incidence of high grade peripheral neuropathy. A follow-up randomised controlled trial is needed to establish definitive efficacy for patients at risk.

(A phase IIA trial of acupuncture to reduce chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy severity during neoadjuvant or adjuvant weekly paclitaxel chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. European Journal of Cancer, September 2018.)

Two pilot studies from China suggest acupuncture can be of help in alleviating cancer pain and fatigue. In the first study, 42 patients with moderate to severe cancer pain and selected from cancer clinics in mainland China and Hong Kong, were randomised to receive acupuncture at one of three possible sets of points. Everyone received seven treatments over a two week period. All patients experienced a decrease in pain, but those in the group needled at LI-4, LV-3, PC-6, ST-36 and SP-6 reported significantly greater pain reduction than the other two groups. The authors say a future multi-centre study with a larger sample size is now warranted.

(A pilot randomized controlled trial of acupuncture at the Si Guan Xue for cancer pain. BMC Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 26 June 2017.)

In a second pilot trial, 28 patients with lung cancer and presenting with cancer-related fatigue, were randomised to receive either true or sham acupuncture twice a week for four weeks. After a fortnight, there was a significant reduction in fatigue in the group receiving true acupuncture compared with those receiving sham control. This difference had increased by week six ie a fortnight post-treatment.

(Acupuncture for cancer-related fatigue in lung cancer patients: a randomized, double blind placebo-controlled pilot trial. Support Care Cancer, 13 July 2017.)

American researchers have shown that acupuncture produces significant improvements in symptoms and quality of life scores, for patients with advanced breast and ovarian cancer. In a pilot trial, forty patients were given 12 acupuncture treatments over eight weeks, with follow-up assessment one week and four weeks after the end of the trial.

Across the 32 patients who were fully assessed at the end, there was self-reported improvement immediately after treatment, in anxiety, fatigue, pain and depression. There was also significant improvement over time in anxiety and depression. Quality of life scores of pain, life satisfaction, mood states and psychological distress, also improved during treatment, and showed sustained improvement at the four week follow-up.

(Acupuncture as Palliative Therapy for Physical Symptoms and Quality of Life for Advanced Cancer Patients. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 18 May 2010.)

A multi-centre crossover study carried out at five hospitals in Germany, has investigated the effectiveness of acupuncture in reducing nausea and vomiting in children receiving chemotherapy. In all, 23 children were randomly allocated to receive acupuncture during either their second or their third, course of chemotherapy, in addition to standard anti-sickness medication. This gave 46 treatments with or without acupuncture, to be compared. In the instances where acupuncture had been given, there was a significant reduction in the need for further anti-sickness medication, and in episodes of vomiting. Patients’ acceptance of acupuncture was high.

(Acupuncture to Alleviate Chemotherapy-induced Nausea and Vomiting in Paediatric Oncology – A Randomised Multicentre Crossover Trial. Klin Padiatr, Nov-Dec 2008.)

A randomised, controlled pilot study has been completed, assessing the contribution of acupressure and acupuncture for cancer-related fatigue. Forty-seven cancer patients with moderate to severe fatigue, were assigned at random to one of three groups: acupuncture, acupressure or sham acupressure. The acupuncture group received six treatments spread over two weeks. The two acupressure groups were shown points which they pressed daily for two weeks. At the end of the trial, the acupuncture group enjoyed a 36% improvement in fatigue levels, the acupressure group improved by 19%, and the sham acupressure group improved by 0.6%.

(The Management of Cancer-Related Fatigue After Chemotherapy with Acupuncture and Acupressure: A Randomised Controlled Trial. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, December 2007.)