Acupuncture for the treatment of hot flashes in breast cancer patients, a randomized, controlled trial

Abstract

Acupuncture has been used to treat the problem of hot flashes in healthy postmenopausal women. The object of this study was to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture in women with breast cancer suffering from hot flashes as a result of anti-oestrogen medication. In a prospective, controlled trial, 59 women suffering from hot flashes following breast cancer surgery and adjuvant oestrogen-antagonist treatment (Tamoxifen) were randomized to either 10 weeks of traditional Chinese acupuncture or sham acupuncture (SA). Mean number of hot flashes at day and night were recorded prior to treatment, during the treatment period as well as during the 12 weeks following treatment. A validated health score (Kupperman index) was conducted at baseline, at the end of the treatment period and at 12 weeks following treatment. During the treatment period mean number of hot flashes at day and night was significantly reduced by 50 and almost 60%, respectively from baseline in the acupuncture group, and was further reduced by 30% both at day and night during the next 12 weeks. In the sham acupuncture group a significant reduction of 25% in hot flashes at day was seen during treatment, but was reversed during the following 12 weeks. No reduction was seen in hot flashes at night. Kupperman index was reduced by 44% from baseline to the end of the treatment period in the acupuncture group, and largely maintained 12 weeks after treatment ended. No corresponding changes were seen in the sham acupuncture group. Acupuncture seems to provide effective relief from hot flashes both day and night in women operated for breast cancer, treated with Tamoxifen. This treatment effect seems to coincide with a general health improvement measured with the validated Kupperman index.

Acupuncture for the Treatment of Hot Flashes in Patients with Breast Cancer Receiving Antiestrogen Therapy: A Pilot Study in Korean Women

“…14 -23 Recent studies have reported that acupuncture is effective in reducing vasomotor symptoms in patients who have breast cancer and who are receiving tamoxifen, [16][17][18][19][20][21][22] but there is no consensus on the optimum treatment frequency or the duration of acupuncture in these patients. The duration of acupuncture treatment in this study was 4 weeks, which is a relatively short period compared to that in previous studies (range, 4-12 weeks).…”

“…[8][9][10] Recent studies have suggested that acupuncture is effective in reducing vasomotor symptoms among menopausal women [11][12][13] as well as patients with breast cancer receiving tamoxifen (Table 1). [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] A randomized controlled trial 17 reported favorable effects of acupuncture compared with sham acupuncture for hot flashes in patients with breast cancer, although another randomized controlled trial 18 failed to show any such effects. Walker et al 19 compared acupuncture with venlafaxine and demonstrated that acupuncture was as effective as venlafaxine.…”

Integrative oncology for breast cancer-patients: Introduction of an expert-based model

“…In addition, acupuncture, mind-body techniques, and massage may help relieve side effects and improve patients' physical and emotional well-being. At present, about one in three breast cancer patients discontinues her hormone treatments against medical advice; in such cases CAM interventions can improve compliance by reducing hot flashes or joint pain [11][12][13].…”

Use of Acupuncture in Hospices and Palliative Care Services in the Uk

“…There is evidence to support the use of acupuncture in patients in palliative care for a range of symptoms including pain, [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] nausea and vomiting, [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] dyspnoea, [28][29][30] xerostomia, [31][32][33][34][35][36][37] hot flushes, [38][39][40][41][42][43][44] fatigue 45 46 and detrusor instability. 47 48 There is also limited (anecdotal) evidence for use of acupuncture in a variety of other conditions such as anxiety, skin ulcer healing, intractable hiccough, dysphagia, radiation rectitis and uraemic pruritus.…”