Acupuncture in Cancer Care: Is it a Really Feasible and Attractive Therapeutic Option? A Single-Centre Experience

Abstract

1. <span lang=EN-GB style=font-size:11.0pt; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-bidi-language:#00FF>Abstract <span lang=EN-GB style=font-size:10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: times= new= roman;mso-ansi-language:en-gb;mso-bidi-language:= #00ff=>1.1. <span lang=EN-GB style=font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-bidi-language:#00FF>Background: <span lang=EN-GB style=font-size:10.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-bidi-language: #00FF;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold>Complementary and Alternative medicine (CAM) is commonly used by cancer patients (pts). Recent randomised controlled trials showed that acupuncture is safe, effective and feasible for the management of cancer-related fatigue and other adverse events of anti-neoplastic therapies. 1.2. <span lang=EN-GB style=font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-bidi-language:#00FF>Materials and Methods: <span lang=EN-GB style=font-size:10.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-bidi-language: #00FF;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold>Since November 2012 we have been offering a supportive care program of 20 minutes’ weekly session of acupuncture for the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea/vomiting, hot flashes, cancer-related fatigue, xerostomia. A brochure regarding indications and techniques was offered to all cancer patients who received a systemic anticlastic therapy (Chemotherapy, Target Therapy, Endocrine Treatment) and/or radiation therapy. 1.3. <span lang=EN-GB style=font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-bidi-language:#00FF>Results: <span lang=EN-GB style=font-size:10.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-bidi-language: #00FF;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold>More than 500 pts affected by solid tumours or lymphoma were treated in our Operative Unit during the period of the project. None of them <span lang=EN-GB style=font-size:10.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family: times= new= roman;mso-ansi-language:en-gb;mso-bidi-language:#00ff=>preferred to receive acupuncture in addition to the specific pharmacological treatment. <span lang=EN-GB style=font-size:10.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-bidi-language: #00FF;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold> <span lang=EN-GB style=font-size: 10.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-bidi-language:#00FF> <span lang=EN-GB style=font-size:10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: times= new= roman;mso-ansi-language:en-gb;mso-bidi-language:= #00ff=>1.4. <span lang=EN-GB style=font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-bidi-language:#00FF>Conclusion: Cancer pts of the district of Belluno, Italy did not demonstrate any interest in acupuncture for the management of side effects of anti-neoplastic treatments.