Multinational Study Discovers Acupuncture's Power in Reducing Hot Flashes from Breast Cancer Treatment

Acupuncture for Breast Cancer Patients on Endocrine Therapy

Introduction

Previous acupuncture studies have primarily focused on European and American women, with little known about the effects of acupuncture on breast cancer patients in Asia. However, a multinational study found that acupuncture significantly decreased hot flashes caused by endocrine therapy treatment, leading to potential benefits for breast cancer patients.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine practice that has been used for approximately 3,000 years. Hair-thin needles are placed on various pressure points around the body to stimulate the central nervous system and promote overall healing.

The Multinational Study

A team of researchers led by Weidong Lu, MB, M. P. H., Ph. D., from the department of medical oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston orchestrated a study with three parallel trials in the United States, South Korea, and China. The study aimed to investigate the effects of acupuncture on hot flashes in breast cancer patients who were on endocrine therapy for at least four weeks.

The median age of the 158 participants was 48, and they had reported an average of six hot flashes a day before the start of the study. The patients were separated into two groups, with one group receiving immediate acupuncture sessions over 10 weeks, and the other group receiving delayed acupuncture for the first 10 weeks followed by weekly sessions for the next 10 weeks.

Effectiveness was measured using the endocrine symptom subscale (ESS) of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT)-Endocrine Symptoms. By week 10, the ESS score for the immediate acupuncture group was 4.9, and the delayed acupuncture group score was 1.3. These results indicate that acupuncture may be an effective, non-pharmacologic option for breast cancer patients on endocrine therapy.

The Significance for Breast Cancer Patients on Endocrine Therapy

Endocrine therapy is a common breast cancer treatment for hormone receptor-positive breast cancers, which grow and spread by attaching to estrogen and progesterone. Although effective, endocrine therapy causes hot flashes in 80% of breast cancer patients, which can be associated with treatment discontinuation.

Previous studies on venlafaxine and gabapentin have shown a reduction in hot flashes but had negative side effects such as dizziness, dry mouth, and difficulty sleeping. The acupuncture study provides a non-pharmacologic option that can potentially help women better tolerate endocrine therapy, which is essential since treatment discontinuation can be detrimental to controlling breast cancer.

Conclusion

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years and continues to have potential benefits for various health issues. The recent multinational study on the effects of acupuncture on hot flashes in breast cancer patients on endocrine therapy shows promising results. The evidence accumulated from studies like this should encourage healthcare professionals to consider integrating acupuncture into standard oncology care pathways, for the benefit of all suitable patients.

Originally Post From https://www.managedhealthcareexecutive.com/view/acupuncture-decreases-hot-flashes-caused-by-breast-cancer-treatment-multinational-study-finds

Multinational Study Discovers Acupuncture’s Power in Reducing Hot Flashes from Breast Cancer Treatment