Acupuncture Wellness Center
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Treatment of Cancer Patients
Acupuncture is not meant to serve as a sole treatment for cancer. Rather, it is generally recommended as a complementary treatment to more traditional methods, such as radiation and chemotherapy as a way to help with side effects of medical treatment.
Acupuncture has long been utilized as a general pain reduction method for thousands of years, originating in the Far East and gradually being utilized throughout the world. Effective cancer treatment often depends on the patient’s ability to not only defeat the cancer through various methods but to also maintain their health and mental spirit throughout the course of treatment.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of acupuncture needles for medical purposes in 1996. In terms of cancer treatment, the procedure is typically used as a means of pain management. Specifically, those who experience severe pain, nausea or vomiting as a side effect of chemotherapy are the most likely to benefit from acupuncture. In 1997, an NIH investigative panel made a public statement that "there is clear evidence that needle acupuncture treatment is effective for postoperative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting."
Other quality-of-life symptoms may also be reduced through the procedure. These include anxiety, stress, depression, insomnia and poor appetite. In some cases, acupuncture may also be used to help improve blood cell count or boost a patient's immune system response.
Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) has been described by cancer survivors as one of the most debilitating symptoms encountered because it affects all aspects of life, and can last for years after treatment. Several studies have shown acupuncture to have a significant effect on CRF.
Integrative Oncology is the combination of “mainstream” care and evidenced-based complimentary therapies to control cancer-related pain and symptoms [source: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Integrative Medicine]. Complementary therapies, while not given the attention that more traditional cancer therapies may receive, are perhaps equally important while undergoing treatment for certain types of cancer. Patients diagnosed with difficult to treat malignancies will often use these types of therapies in conjunction with traditional treatment options, which include surgery, chemotherapy, or radiology, to form a more comprehensive and effective treatment regimen. Among the most effective alternative therapies utilized by those diagnosed with cancer is acupuncture.
Often, the symptoms and effects of the cancer itself on the body are insignificant compared to the pain and other side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. Patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation are often fatigued, experience a lack of appetite and weight loss, and may become depressed. For cancer patients experiencing these and other side effects, acupuncture is extremely beneficial. According to the ancient theories of Chinese medicine, “qi,” or “life energy,” flows through energy channels within the body known as meridians. These channels connect the body’s internal organs, and if these meridians become “blocked,” or an individual’s qi cannot flow properly, disease will set in. Acupuncture is said to relieve blockages and restore the natural flow of qi, and ultimately restoring one’s health.
Cancers such as mesothelioma, which are often unable to be removed by surgical means, are often treated with some combination of chemotherapy and radiation [the combination of chemo drug Alimta® and anti-cancer drug Cisplatin® is a popular treatment for cancer patients with mesothelioma]. While these potent drugs can be effective in eliminating some of the tumor mass and growth, they also profoundly affect the health of the surrounding tissue. Symptoms experienced by those undergoing mainstream cancer treatments include fever, nausea, and debilitating pain.
Patients who undergo acupuncture in conjunction with mainstream cancer therapies have experienced dramatic reductions in pain and feel that their energy and mental well being was restored. Cancer patients who feel energized, are pain-free and have a solid state of mind are more likely to withstand traditional methods of cancer treatment and have an increased survival rate.
Acupuncture is said to be so effective, in fact, that the World Health Organization [WHO] has recognized acupuncture as a successful intervention for adverse reactions to radiation and chemotherapy. The National Institute of Health [NIH] also agreed that acupuncture may relieve nausea and pain experienced by cancer sufferers, and the organization supports acupuncture clinical trials. More information on cancer and acupuncture here.
While this ancient method of therapy may be extremely effective for some, acupuncture may not be recommended for all cancer patients. Those who have a history of endocarditis, neutropenia or thrombocytopenia should not undergo acupuncture. Individuals with lymphedema or those who have a pacemaker should speak with a physician before beginning any course of acupuncture therapy.
While oncologists like Dr. David Sugarbaker of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Massachusetts continue to work towards a cure, those who practice the ancient art of acupuncture will be working to help cancer sufferers experience a better quality of life and an increased rate of survival.
Dr. Dinsmore has successfully treated cancer patients for pain, nausea, and the effects of chemotherapy, as well as supporting a speedy return to health after cancer treatment.
Experience counts!