1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. In response, researchers and medical professionals are seeking solutions for women who suffer from the side effects of treatment. With more people recognizing the value of holistic approaches, extensive research is done each day to expand resources like acupuncture for the fight against breast cancer.
Acupuncture is proven to be an affordable, drug-free option to support standard breast cancer treatment and is widely available in US healthcare facilities like hospitals, clinics, and more.
How Does Acupuncture Help with the Treatment of Breast Cancer?
Studies show that acupuncture is an effective solution for alleviating painful symptoms from chemotherapy, radiation, aromatase inhibitor therapy, and surgery. Duke University published a study comparing anti-nausea medication, Zofran, to acupuncture to determine which worked best as a complementary treatment to nausea from post-surgery breast cancer.
The treatments were performed prior to surgery, and patients stated acupuncture worked best at relieving their nausea. With continued studies being performed, breast cancer patients find acupuncture a viable option in managing cancer treatment symptoms from the mental and physical side effects they experience.
Fatigue
Fatigue is listed as one of the most common chemotherapy symptoms, and 31% of cancer patients felt more energized from acupuncture.
Hot Flashes
Certain breast cancer drug treatments affect women’s estrogen production, leading to early menopause. A 2005 study showed acupuncture treatments reduced women’s hot flashes by half.
Anxiety and Depression
Regular acupuncture treatments have been shown to help patients relax, lift depression, and stabilize their moods. These benefits can give them more strength to fight cancer.
Nausea and Vomiting
Around 75% of chemotherapy patients experience nausea. For patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy, studies show acupuncture treatments can be as effective as anti-nausea medications.
Physical Pain
Acupuncture is commonly used to manage all types of pain, particularly joint pain. Patients have reported about 36% pain reduction after two months after acupuncture treatment.
What Women Need to Know About Holistic Breast Cancer Care
It’s important to note that acupuncture has not been proven to be a cure for breast cancer and is not recommended as a standalone cancer treatment. Millions of people receive acupuncture each year; however, there are still risks for some people.
When performed by a trained professional, acupuncture is generally a safe treatment for breast cancer patients of all ages. When speaking with your practitioner, it’s important to be transparent with your medical history.
The following risks have been associated with acupuncture:
Bleeding
Talk to a doctor about your blood count level if you have a bleeding disorder, low platelet counts, or take blood thinners. Although rare, there is a chance that the needles draw blood.
Infection
If you have a low white blood cell count, acupuncture puts you at a slightly higher risk of infection.
Lymphedema
The increase of infection is higher if you’ve had lymph nodes removed and perform acupuncture on the affected area. However, there is research being done to determine the potential health benefits of acupuncture as a treatment for lymphedema.
Holistic Breast Cancer Care with Crossroads Chiropractic
At Crossroads Chiropractic, our doctors are trained and certified in acupuncture. Our patients have found symptomatic relief for a variety of diseases and conditions, including chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
If you have questions regarding the benefits of acupuncture treatments to relieve the side effects of breast cancer treatment, contact us today for answers and to schedule an appointment!
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