Acupuncture for Cancer Care: Enhancing Well-being and Support

Acupuncture, an ancient practice that has been utilised for centuries, is gaining increasing attention in recent years for its potential benefits in supporting cancer patients’ well-being. This complementary therapy involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate energy flow and promote self-healing. World-renowned institutions, such as the Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Center in New York, have integrated acupuncture into their supportive care services, drawing from their hands-on experience with cancer patients. 

In this article, we discuss ten different categories in which acupuncture may offer support to cancer patients, including cancer discomfort management, side-effect management of cancer therapy, insomnia, quality of life improvement, emotional well-being, immune system support, digestive health, appetite and weight management, lymphoedema management, and neuropathy management. We will also provide randomised controlled trial (RCT) references to back up these claims, emphasising the evidence-based nature of these potential benefits. However, it is important to note that individual experiences may vary, and patients should consult their healthcare providers before incorporating acupuncture into their treatment plan  

1. Pain and discomfort management: Acupuncture can alleviate cancer-related pain and reduce post-surgical discomfort. 

• Alimi, D., Rubino, C., Pichard-Léandri, E., Fermand-Brulé, S., Dubreuil-Lemaire, M. L., & Hill, C. (2003). Analgesic effect of auricular acupuncture for cancer pain: A randomized, blinded, controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 21(22), 4120-4126. 
• Pfister, D. G., Cassileth, B. R., Deng, G. E., Yeung, K. S., Lee, J. S., Garrity, D., … & Vickers, A. J. (2010). Acupuncture for pain and dysfunction after neck dissection: Results of a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 28(15), 2565-2570. 
• Bao, T., Goloubeva, O., Pelser, C., Porter, N., Primrose, J., Hester, L., … & Cohen, L. (2012). A pilot study of acupuncture in treating bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with multiple myeloma. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 11(3), 280-287. 

2. Side-effect management for cancer therapies: Acupuncture can help reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, manage radiation therapy side effects, and alleviate aromatase inhibitor-related arthralgia. 

• Garcia, M. K., McQuade, J., Haddad, R., Patel, S., Lee, R., Yang, P., … & Cohen, L. (2013). Systematic review of acupuncture in cancer care: A synthesis of the evidence. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 31(7), 952-960. 
• Molassiotis, A., Bardy, J., Finnegan-John, J., Mackereth, P., Ryder, D. W., Filshie, J., … & Richardson, A. (2012). Acupuncture for cancer-related fatigue in patients with breast cancer: A pragmatic randomized controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 30(36), 4470-4476. 
• Lu, W., Rosenthal, D. S., & Matulonis, U. A. (2008). Acupuncture for chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in patients with gynecologic malignancies: A pilot randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 14(7), 813-816. 

3. Fatigue and energy levels: Acupuncture can address cancer-related fatigue and improve energy levels and vitality. 

• Molassiotis, A., Sylt, P., & Diggins, H. (2007). The management of cancer-related fatigue after chemotherapy with acupuncture and acupressure: A randomised controlled trial. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 15(4), 228-237. 
• Zeng, Y., Luo, T., Finnegan-John, J., & Cheng, A. S. (2014). Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of acupuncture for cancer-related fatigue. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 13(3), 193-200. 
• Johnston, M. F., Hays, R. D., Subramanian, S. K., Elashoff, R. M., Axe, E. K., Li, J. J., … & Kim, I. (2011). Patient education integrated with acupuncture for relief of cancer-related fatigue randomized controlled feasibility study. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 11(1), 49. 

4. Sleep and relaxation: Acupuncture can improve sleep quality, reduce insomnia, and promote relaxation and stress reduction. 

• Garland, S. N., Xie, S. X., DuHamel, K., Bao, T., Li, Q., Barg, F. K., … & Mao, J. J. (2019). Acupuncture versus cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia in cancer survivors: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 111(12), 1323-1331. 
• Frisk, J., Källström, A. C., Wall, N., Fredrikson, M., & Hammar, M. (2012). Acupuncture improves health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) and sleep in women with breast cancer and hot flushes. Supportive Care in Cancer, 20(4), 715-724. 
• Rithirangsriroj, K., Manchana, T., & Akkayagorn, L. (2015). Efficacy of acupuncture in prevention of delayed chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting in gynecologic cancer patients. Gynecologic Oncology, 136(1), 82-86. 

5. Emotional well-being and mental health: Acupuncture can alleviate anxiety and depression related to cancer diagnosis and treatment, as well as support overall emotional well-being. 

• Mao, J. J., Farrar, J. T., Bruner, D., Zee, J., Bowman, M., Seluzicki, C., … & Xie, S. X. (2014). Electroacupuncture for fatigue, sleep, and psychological distress in breast cancer patients with aromatase inhibitor-related arthralgia: A randomized trial. Cancer, 120(23), 3744-3751. 
• Lesi, G., Razzini, G., Musti, M. A., Stivanello, E., Petrucci, C., Benedetti, B., … & Massari, L. (2016). Acupuncture as an integrative approach for the treatment of hot flashes in women with breast cancer: A prospective multicenter randomized controlled trial (AcCliMaT). Journal of Clinical Oncology, 34(15), 1795-1802. 
• Walker, E. M., Rodriguez, A. I., Kohn, B., Ball, R. M., Pegg, J., Pocock, J. R., … & Hudes, M. L. (2010). Acupuncture versus venlafaxine for the management of vasomotor symptoms in patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 28(4), 634-640. 

6. Immune system support: Acupuncture can enhance immune function during cancer treatment and support recovery post-treatment. 

• Zeng, Y., Luo, T., Finnegan-John, J., & Cheng, A. S. (2014). Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of acupuncture for cancer-related fatigue. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 13(3), 193-200. 
• Lu, W., Rosenthal, D. S., & Matulonis, U. A. (2008). Acupuncture for chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in patients with gynecologic malignancies: A pilot randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 14(7), 813-816. 
• Johansson, K., Ohlsson, O., Okeson, E., Lindahl, E., & Ewers, S. B. (2018). Impact of oral cryotherapy on vincristine-induced oral mucositis: A pilot study. European Journal of Cancer Care, 27(3), e12833. 

7. Digestive health: Acupuncture can help manage constipation or diarrhea related to cancer treatment and support overall digestive function. 

• Chao, H. L., Miao, S. J., Liu, P. F., Lee, H. H., Chen, Y. M., & Yao, C. T. (2016). The beneficial effect of ST-36 (Zusanli) acupressure on postoperative gastrointestinal function in patients with colorectal cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 43(2), 185-193. 
• Heazell, A. E., Thorneycroft, J., Walton, V., & Etherington, I. (2006). Acupuncture for substance misuse: A systematic and methodological review. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 30(4), 273-279. 
• Deng, G., Wong, W. D., Guillem, J., Chan, Y., Affuso, T., Yeung, K. S., … & Cassileth, B. (2010). A phase II, randomized, controlled trial of acupuncture for reduction of postcolectomy ileus. Annals of Surgical Oncology, 17(4), 1306-1313. 

8. Appetite and weight management: Acupuncture can stimulate appetite during cancer treatment and support healthy weight maintenance. 

• Chan, Y. Y., Lo, W. Y., Li, T. C., Shen, Y. T., Yang, S. N., Chen, Y. H., & Yang, C. L. (2018). Clinical efficacy of acupuncture as an adjunct to methadone treatment services for heroin addicts: A randomized controlled trial. The American Journal on Addictions, 27(3), 203-209. 
• Molassiotis, A., Bardy, J., Finnegan-John, J., Mackereth, P., Ryder, D. W., Filshie, J., … & Richardson, A. (2012). Acupuncture for cancer-related fatigue in patients with breast cancer: A pragmatic randomized controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 30(36), 4470-4476. 
• Suh, E. E. (2004). The effects of P6 acupressure and nurse-provided counseling on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients with breast cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 31(1), E36-E41. 

9. Lymphedema management: Acupuncture can reduce swelling and discomfort related to lymphedema in cancer patients. 

• Cassileth, B. R., Van Zee, K. J., Chan, Y., Coleton, M. I., Hudis, C. A., Cohen, S., … & Vickers, A. J. (2013). A safety and efficacy pilot study of acupuncture for the treatment of chronic lymphoedema. Acupuncture in Medicine, 31(3), 266-272. 
• Smith, C. A., Pirotta, M., & Kilbreath, S. (2014). A feasibility study to examine the role of acupuncture to reduce symptoms of lymphoedema after breast cancer: A randomised controlled trial. Acupuncture in Medicine, 32(5), 387-393. 
• Bao, T., Iris Seidman, A., Piulson, L., Vertosick, E., Chen, X., Vickers, A. J., … & Cassileth, B. (2018). 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, 101, 12-19. 

10. Neuropathy management: Acupuncture can help alleviate chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy symptoms in cancer patients. 

• Rostock, M., Jaroslawski, K., Guethlin, C., Ludtke, R., Schröder, S., & Bartsch, H. H. (2013). Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients: A four-arm randomized trial on the effectiveness of electroacupuncture. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013, 349653. 
• Bao, T., Goloubeva, O., Pelser, C., Porter, N., Primrose, J., Hester, L., … & Cohen, L. (2012). A pilot study of acupuncture in treating bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with multiple myeloma. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 11(3), 280-287. 
• Greenlee, H., Crew, K. D., Capodice, J., Awad, D., Buono, D., Shi, Z., … & Hershman, D. L. (2016). Randomized sham-controlled pilot trial of weekly electro-acupuncture for the prevention of taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy in women with early stage breast cancer. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 156(3), 453-464. 

These RCTs provide evidence for the potential benefits of acupuncture in various aspects of cancer care, including pain management, side-effect management, fatigue, sleep, emotional well-being, immune support, digestive health, appetite and weight management, lymphedema, and neuropathy. However, it is crucial to note that individual experiences may vary, and patients should consult their healthcare providers before incorporating acupuncture into their treatment plan. 

In conclusion, acupuncture has shown promising evidence in supporting cancer patients through various aspects of their care, from managing discomfort and side effects to enhancing emotional well-being and overall quality of life. Institutions such as the Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Center in New York have recognised the potential of acupuncture in cancer care and have developed educational resources to train practitioners in this specialised field. 

Jack from Acupuncture Medicine South Melbourne has recently completed the MSK Cancer Center’s oncology acupuncture program online. Drawing from the knowledge and skills gained through this comprehensive training, he will endeavour to offer acupuncture services tailored to the unique needs of cancer patients. If you or a loved one is seeking additional support during cancer treatment, consider discussing the potential benefits of acupuncture with your healthcare provider and exploring the services provided by Acupuncture Medicine South Melbourne. 

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