Acupuncture is better than drug therapy in patients with breast cancer.

Major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, menopausal hot flashes and other symptoms are usually associated with chemotherapy/radiation treatment and post treatment of breast cancer. Although, at the first sight these symptoms are not life threatening, for a breast cancer patient they are overwhelming, and they have physically and psychically very negative consequences… Ultimately, more or less directly, these symptoms can easily destroy the immune system.

Primarily, allopathic medicine use for the treatment of these symptoms a drug called Venlafaxine (Effexor, Efexor, Trevilor).

The results of a study conducted by Dr. Eleanor M. Walker, published on December 28th, 2009 in Journal of Clinical Oncology "Acupuncture versus venlafaxine for the management of vasomotor symptoms in patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer" shows that:

Acupuncture appears to be equivalent to drug therapy in these patients. It is a safe (has no side effects), effective and durable treatment for vasomotor symptoms secondary to long-term anti-estrogen hormone use in patients with breast cancer.

Both groups of patients (treated with Venlafaxine and treated with acupuncture, respectively) exhibited significant decreases in hot flashes, depressive symptoms, and other quality-of-life symptoms, including significant improvements in mental health from pre- to post-treatment

Patients who are treated with Venlafaxine experienced 18 incidences of adverse effects (eg, nausea, dry mouth, dizziness, anxiety) - out of total of 25 common side effects , whereas acupuncture patients experienced no negative adverse effects.

The patients who were treated with Venlafaxine experienced 18 incidences of adverse effects (eg, nausea, dry mouth, dizziness, anxiety) - out of total of 25 common side effects (see http://www.wyeth.com/content/showlabeling.asp?id=99), whereas acupuncture patients experienced no negative adverse effects.

"I agreed to a Chinese traditional treatment in addition to the allopathic one universally offered by medicine because I wanted an assurance that something can be done to better stand the side effects of chemotherapy and radiations; and continued it even when doctors and nurses were advising about the interference of allopathic treatment with the parallel treatment or even the danger of being annulled by it.

The parallel treatment consisted in acupuncture and reflexology/acupressure targeted to enhance the resistance of main organs that can be affected by chemotherapy, combined with a horrific tasting but extremely beneficent herbal tea.

The effects were counted when every blood test required before each chemotherapy session was unanimously accepted by my oncologist and nurses; while other patients' treatment needed delays due to lower than required white cell count; I was progressing through my treatment with no interruptions or hold backs.

Moreover, while other patients experienced the worse of side effects, such as infections and hospitalization, I constantly "marched" through my treatment with less pain and more confidence that is just a phase of my life I will eventually pass. And I did it! Like a doctor, Dan Micu has guided me through mastering the pain and contributed to my healing.. " - Mihaela C. t(read more)

Dan Micu, D.Acupuncturist



Soothe - Pain and Stress Management Clinic
335 Sheppard Avenue East (Bayview & Sheppard);
North York, ON, Canada
www.soothe.ca
Tel: 416-221-4991


Posted on: January 8th 2010

Photo:Breast cancer survivor (2 months after chemo)