Acupuncture Improves Quality of Life Among Breast Cancer Patients

Posted on 2010-01-06 06:00:00 in Alternative Medicine | Cancer |

Eleanor M. Walker, from Henry Ford Hospital (Michigan, USA), and colleagues studied 50 breast cancer patients, randomly assigned to receive either acupuncture or drug (venlafaxine) treatment for 12 weeks. The acupuncture group received treatments twice per week for the first four weeks, and then once a week for the remaining eight weeks, while the drug therapy group took venlafaxine orally each night, 37.5mg the first week and then 75mg for the remaining 11 weeks. At the end of 12 weeks, all patients stopped their therapy and were followed for one year. Patients kept a diary to record the number and severity of hot flashes, and took surveys to measure their overall health and mental health. While both groups initially experienced a 50% decline in hot flashes and depressive symptoms, differences began to emerge two weeks post-treatment: The acupuncture group continued to experience minimal hot flashes, while the drug therapy group had a significant increase in hot flashes. The acupuncture group did not experience an increase in the frequency of their hot flashes until three months post-treatment. Noting in addition that ”the acupuncture group experienced no negative adverse effects. Acupuncture had the additional benefit of increased sex drive in some women, and most reported an improvement in their energy, clarity of thought, and sense of well-being,” the researchers conclude that: “Acupuncture appears to be equivalent to drug therapy in these patients. It is a safe, effective and durable treatment for vasomotor symptoms secondary to long-term antiestrogen hormone use in patients with breast cancer.”

Eleanor M. Walker, Alba I. Rodriguez, Beth Kohn, Ronald M. Ball, Jan Pegg, Jeffrey R. Pocock, Ramon Nunez, Ed Peterson, Susan Jakary, and Robert A. Levine. “Acupuncture Versus Venlafaxine for the Management of Vasomotor Symptoms in Patients With Hormone Receptor–Positive Breast Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” J Clinical Oncology published online December 28, 2009, DOI:10.1200/JCO.2009.23.5150.

Health Headlines

Insufficient Sleep Prompts Fat

Five hours or less of sleep a night corresponds to large increases in visceral fat.

Sense of Purpose Slashes Alzheimer’s Risk

Rush University (US) researchers find that older men and women who maintain a purpose in life are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s Disease.

Elevated Inflammatory Markers in Childhood Warn of Future Heart Disease

Obese children as young as three years old may have elevated levels of C-Reactive Protein and other inflammatory markers linked to heart disease in adulthood.

Omega-3s Boost Brain Function

Healthy middle-aged men and women with higher blood levels of DHA, a type of omega-3 fatty acid, perform better on tests of reasoning, memory, and vocabulary.

The Epidemic of Cognitive Decline

University of California researchers project that the nation’s oldest men and women will experience an 18% annual dementia incidence that increases with age.

B-Vitamin May Promote Brain Function Recovery After Stroke

Vitamin B3, niacin, is shown to assist with the recovery of brain function, in a lab animal model of stroke.

Coffee May Slash Stroke Risk

Large-scale UK study finds that just a single cup of coffee a day cuts stroke risk by 30%.

The Multi-Benefits of Multivitamins

Chinese study reveals that multivitamins and minerals may confer a wealth of benefits, including reduced body weight and improved blood fat levels.

Implications of High Blood Pressure Underestimated

Increased efforts to address hypertension in the United States are critical to offset cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the nation.

The Negative Effects of Stress for Diabetics

Among older diabetics, stress raises the risks of memory loss and cognitive decline.