Is acupuncture a therapeutic option for late injuries after breast cancer treatment?

In October, the action "pink ribbon" is put forward to disseminate information and raise awareness of breast cancer. This year, there are late injuries after treatment.

Even though one in three survivors suffers from late injuries, research that could help reduce the quality of life due to the side effects of breast cancer treatment is lacking. Chronic fatigue after cancer treatment, also known as fatigue, is one of the most common late-onset injuries among cancer survivors. Additional symptoms may be impaired concentration, sleep problems, lack of sexuality, and mood swings where concerns are most pronounced.

For the patient, this can have serious consequences: for example, the unemployment rate of survivors after breast cancer is higher than that of healthy women. Although self-action is recommended as appropriate training, there are few or no well-documented measures to reduce symptoms.

Several international clinical guidelines recommend acupuncture as an additional treatment method for several conditions, such as lower back pain, migraine, tension headaches, and pregnancy. Can acupuncture have a place in treatment? Late wounds in breast cancer survivors?

Acupuncture against chronic fatigue

We are currently conducting a pilot study in which acupuncture is administered as a treatment for chronic fatigue in breast cancer survivors. The study is approved by the Regional Committee for the Ethics of Medical and Health Research – REK South-East and is being held in Oslo.

Pilot study participants receive information on the one-year control study after the completion of cancer treatment at Akershus University Hospital and contact the Kristiania College project coordinator if they wish to participate .

The treatment of the study implies that the acupuncturist draws up a detailed medical history and makes a diagnosis related to fatigue / fatigue based on the acupuncture course theories. Then, a personalized treatment is given by placing 6 to 12 acupuncture needles at acupuncture points on the arms, legs, belly, back and possibly the head. The needles are removed after about 20 minutes. In addition, lifestyle advice is given when the acupuncturist deems it necessary.

If the participant has edema (swelling) in one arm or has removed more than four lymph nodes under one or both arms, no acupuncture is given in that arm or arm. If the participant has received the implant implanted as part of a breast reconstruction, acupuncture will not put needles in this area of ​​the body.

Acupuncture is a safe treatment when done by qualified personnel. There are studies showing that acupuncture can have an effect on chronic fatigue among cancer survivors. At the same time, a number of cancer centers in the United States, such as the MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dana Farber, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, offer acupuncture for the rehabilitation of cancer survivors. The last two centers are project partners, in addition to the Akershus University Hospital and the National Center for Research on Alternative and Complementary Medicines (NAFKAM) of the University of Arctic Norway.

Why a pilot study?

A pilot study is a type of feasibility study that establishes whether a planned major study is realistic and feasible. The largest study will have 255 participants, while the pilot study will only have 40 participants.

However, the current pilot study has the same design and methodological approach as the larger study. This will evaluate procedures, randomization, collaboration and implementation of acupuncture, so that all necessary changes and improvements are possible before the start of the large study.

Women participating in the study suffer from chronic fatigue, in part because of an antiestrogen treatment that they receive to prevent new growth of a hormone-sensitive cancerous tumor.

Treatment causes frequent hot flashes, which can contribute to chronic fatigue. Symptoms of fatigue, indicate a complex health disorder. Therefore, the study will also use questionnaires to map anxiety, depression and sleep, which can also affect chronic fatigue.

Can acupuncture have a real positive effect on these sores?

More research is needed

In 2005, the National Service of Competence for Late Injuries after Cancer Treatment was established at the University Hospital of Oslo. The center studies late injuries and disseminates them to patients, health professionals and health authorities alike, and demonstrates the need to increase knowledge and expertise on late-onset injuries at all times. levels of health services. However, more randomized controlled trials are needed, in which more participants are randomly divided into treatment groups and control groups.

We are seeing an increase in the use of acupuncture as a treatment for late-onset lesions in the US and several European countries, but it may be necessary to conduct a large randomized controlled trial of acupuncture as a treatment. Late lesions of breast cancer survivors in Norway.