This cancer support case study describes the experience of a 45-year-old woman who came to our clinic seeking relief from the discomfort associated with cancer treatment. Her main complaints were nausea and fatigue brought on by the chemotherapy. After completing her cancer treatment, acupuncture helped her manage post-cancer medications which caused hot flashes and joint pain.
A Difficult Journey
Cancer treatment is no picnic, and our patient was making the best of a trying time. She received chemotherapy once every two weeks, which caused severe nausea and fatigue. Her doctor recommended acupuncture, and she was open to anything that might help.
Treating Chemo-Induced Nausea
Acupuncture is well suited to treat nausea triggered by chemotherapy. That’s because acupuncture is one of the most effective treatments for any nausea. Specific acupoints on the body calm the stomach and specifically ease the body’s nausea reaction.
In Chinese medicine, nausea is a type of “rebellious stomach qi (energy),” meaning that instead of directing its energy downward, a rebellious stomach sends its energy upward, resulting in nausea. Other forms of rebellious stomach qi include frequent belching and acid reflux, which involve inverse stomach activity.
The key to treating a confused stomach is to “redirect” its energy downward, and that’s just what acupuncture does. For example, in this cancer support case study, we used two key acupuncture points, PC6 and ST36, to retrain her stomach to descend instead of rising. These points have a direct influence on stomach function and worked like a charm to reduce her nausea.
Treating Chemo-Induced Fatigue
WebMD states, “Cancer treatments, specifically chemotherapy, can decrease the number of red blood cells, causing anemia. Red blood cells deliver oxygen throughout the body, so when tissues don’t get enough oxygen, you can feel fatigued.”
Chinese medicine believes that energy is derived primarily from the digestive system. A strong stomach transforms food into energy, while a weakened stomach fails to convert food, leading to fatigue. In our view, chemotherapy damages the stomach, as clearly seen from the symptoms of nausea and vomiting. Acupuncture not only helps the stomach direct its energy downward (reducing nausea) but helps restore normal stomach function to transform food again correctly.
Restoring balance to the digestive system is the single best way to improve energy and reduce fatigue. We use this technique when treating all cases of fatigue, whether brought on by medicines (chemotherapy), disease (i.e., autoimmune conditions, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome), or emotional challenges (anxiety, depression, overthinking, worry or stress).
Cancer Support Case Study
After her first acupuncture treatment, our patient in this cancer support case study felt significantly less nausea and was able to reduce the dosage of her anti-nausea medication. Following her third treatment, she reported that her energy was 40% improved. So we decided she would come every other week, following each chemo session, to manage nausea and boost her energy. This approach worked exceedingly well for her, and soon she was done with chemo!
Her doctors recommended that she continue to take two medications as a follow-up to her treatment to help prevent the return of cancer. The only problem was that one medication had the side effect of hot flashes and night sweats while the other caused pain in the joints of the hands. Three weeks into this treatment, she developed both of these conditions.
We restarted acupuncture to address both the heat and pain symptoms, and happily, the treatments were successful. Acupuncture completely controlled her hot flashes and night sweats by using a protocol we use for perimenopausal women that nourishes kidney yin and reduces empty heat. In addition, our treatment resolved the pain in her thumb and forefinger joints by invigorating qi circulation in the channels of her hands.
Next Steps
If you or someone you love is undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer, try acupuncture. Treatments are safe and effective – all needles are sterile, single-use, hair-thin, and provide long-lasting relief. In addition, we typically achieve the excellent results described in this cancer support case study.
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What our Clients are Saying
I developed severe nausea during my chemotherapy treatments. Raleigh Acupuncture really helped. With each round of treatment I went for a few acupuncture treatments and each time they helped. I got through my cancer treatment easier with their help.