A role for acupuncture in breast cancer treatment

As many as one-half of patients with breast cancer experience chemotherapy-associated cognitive dysfunction (eg, perception, memory, judgment, and reasoning).

They are often interested in using acupuncture for symptom relief. But is it worth the effort?

A literature review by researchers at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA found that there is “evidence that acupuncture may be effectively used to manage a range of psychoneurological issues, some of which are similar to those experienced by patients with chemotherapy-associated cognitive dysfunction.”

The evidence supporting acupuncture is more promising for psychological than neurological conditions. However, when combined with its safety, “physicians should support patient decisions to use acupuncture services for chemotherapy-associated cognitive dysfunction, especially given the lack of proven alternatives.”

4/1/07 15:10 JR