Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that has been used medically for more than 2,500 years. Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s (MSK) Integrative Medicine Services are studying the science of acupuncture to determine how cancer patients benefit from this treatment. They are also conducting clinical trials (research studies) comparing acupuncture with other treatments.
Here, Jun Mao, MD, MSCE, director of MSK’s Integrative Medicine Service, explains what researchers at MSK and other institutions are learning about acupuncture and how the treatment can help relieve some of the symptoms and side effects common to cancer patients, including neuropathy, pain, stress and anxiety, nausea and sleep disorders.
What the experts know about the science of acupuncture
According to traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture points are located at specific points along the meridians or pathways that connect different parts of the body. ChiThese channels are believed to carry chi (energy), and acupuncture involves inserting very thin needles into the skin to promote the flow and balance of chi, relieving symptoms that occur when chi becomes blocked.
Animal and human studies have shown that acupuncture may promote pain relief, reduce stress, anxiety and depression, improve sleep, and increase blood flow. It may also help reduce inflammation, which may explain why it may relieve pain.
Additionally, acupuncture appears to improve nerve signaling in people with pain or numbness in the hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy) or other types of nerve pain.
What types of acupuncture are there?
MSK’s Integrative Medicine Services offers several types of acupuncture treatments.
- Traditional Acupuncture Inserting thin needles into designated areas of the body
- Electroacupuncture Attaching electrodes to needles
- Ear Acupuncture Needles need to be inserted into areas of the ear that correspond to different parts of the body.
Acupuncture for neuropathy
Some chemotherapy drugs are known to cause chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a type of nerve damage that can cause pain, numbness, weakness, and tingling, especially in the hands and feet. This condition can significantly disrupt patients’ daily lives, affecting sleep, motor function, balance, and the ability to perform tasks that require fine motor control, such as buttoning a shirt or tying shoelaces.
In a Phase 2 clinical trial published in European Journal of Cancer In 2018, a study investigated whether acupuncture could prevent CIPN from worsening in people receiving the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel (Taxol).®) was used to treat breast cancer. Researchers found that acupuncture was safe and showed preliminary evidence of effectiveness in reducing severe CIPN during chemotherapy.
Improvement in CIPN and quality of life was confirmed in another study of cancer survivors, Oncologist 2021. MSK researchers are currently conducting a phase 3 controlled trial to determine whether electroacupuncture can help relieve CIPN.
Acupuncture for cancer pain
A study conducted at MSK looked at how acupuncture can help relieve pain associated with cancer. “Pain is one of the most common and most feared symptoms for cancer patients and survivors,” says Dr. Mao. “It’s really important that we study the evidence so we can make informed recommendations to clinicians and patients.”
One study Journal of Clinical Oncology A study published in 2022 looked at treating cancer pain without drugs. The study was a two-year collaboration between the Society for Integrative Oncology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and its findings highlight the important role acupuncture and other integrative therapies can play in cancer treatment. Specifically, the researchers concluded that acupuncture should be recommended for adult patients experiencing joint pain associated with certain hormone therapies. They also concluded that acupuncture and acupressure (applying pressure to meridians on the body) may be effective for general cancer pain and musculoskeletal pain.
Another study JAMA Oncology A 2021 study compared electroacupuncture and auricular acupuncture to traditional cancer pain medications (opioids and over-the-counter painkillers). Researchers found that both types of acupuncture were more effective than traditional treatments in reducing chronic musculoskeletal pain in cancer survivors.
Research has also focused on the effectiveness of therapeutic massage in relieving cancer pain. In another recent study led by Dr. Mao and gastrointestinal oncologist Andrew Epstein, M.D.,, And was published JAMA Network Open A comparison of acupuncture and massage found that both treatments not only reduced musculoskeletal pain, but also improved fatigue and insomnia, improving patients’ quality of life.
Acupuncture for Stress and Anxiety
Stress and anxiety are common for people undergoing cancer treatment, beginning at diagnosis, continuing throughout prognosis and treatment, and even long after the disease has been cured. Specific causes of stress can include feelings of uncertainty, the severity of the disease, the treatment itself, physical challenges, fear of recurrence, and overall mental state, all of which can have a profound effect on quality of life.
In a paper published in cancer, Researchers studied the effect of electroacupuncture on psychological distress and other symptoms in breast cancer survivors with joint pain caused by breast cancer drugs called aromatase inhibitors. They found that compared with standard care, electroacupuncture significantly improved anxiety, depression, and fatigue.
Acupuncture for chemotherapy-induced nausea
Many people experience nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy, which can have a variety of causes, including medications that affect areas of the brain that suppress nausea, or that irritate the lining of the mouth, throat, stomach, or intestines.
A study published in the journal Gynecologic Oncology Acupuncture has been found to be more effective than ondansetron, a drug used to treat nausea and vomiting, in preventing delayed nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.
A 2018 guideline developed by the Society for Integrative Oncology and endorsed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology recommends acupressure and acupuncture to reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients.
Research has shown that acupuncture stimulates the release of pituitary endorphins and corticosteroids, substances that inhibit the areas of the brain that cause vomiting.
Acupuncture for sleep disorders such as hot flashes, insomnia, and fatigue
“We often hear that cancer affects sleep,” says Dr. Mao. “They have trouble falling asleep, they wake up a lot, and they feel very tired during the day. They want something other than a drug to improve their sleep and their quality of life.”
One study looked at breast cancer patients who experience hot flashes caused by the surgical removal of their ovaries or chemotherapy, which can disrupt restful nighttime sleep. The study was published in the journal Neurology. menopause A 2017 study found that electroacupuncture improved overall sleep quality more than gabapentin, a treatment for hot flashes, in breast cancer patients. Researchers found that electroacupuncture could specifically improve “sleep onset latency,” or the time it takes to fall asleep, and “sleep efficiency,” or the percentage of time you spend in bed actually asleep.
Other studies have looked at sleep issues more broadly. One study published in 2019 found thatJournal of the National Cancer Institute Acupuncture has been shown to be comparable to a treatment called cognitive behavioral therapy in reducing the severity of insomnia in cancer survivors.
One way acupuncture may help with sleep disorders is by increasing the amount of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the body, a substance that when low can lead to poor quality sleep.
Where can cancer patients get acupuncture treatment?
Those receiving cancer treatment at MSK can receive acupuncture treatment at several locations in Manhattan.
Also available at most of our local locations.
For those who are not MSK patients, it is important to receive treatment from an acupuncturist who has experience treating cancer patients.
You can visit the National Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Certification Board’s website to search for qualified practitioners based on location and certification.
Is acupuncture for cancer typically covered by insurance?
Some insurance companies cover certain acupuncture treatments. Contact your insurance company before booking to find out what portions of the acupuncture cost will be covered and what symptoms (such as pain or nausea) will be included in that coverage.
