acupuncture

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Just wondering if anyone used acupuncture while going through chemo. A friend of mine did, and she found it helpful. Any input?

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  • rubytuesday
    rubytuesday Member Posts: 2,248
    edited August 2007

    I didn't do chemo but have used acupuncture for other problems. All I can say is that my acupuncturist has done more for me than ANY medical Dr. ever has. I say give it a whirl! Best wishes!

  • JerseyGemini
    JerseyGemini Member Posts: 98
    edited August 2007
    I had it once a week during chemo and twice per week on the week of my treatment. I had more energy during chemo than ever before or ever since. It also seemed to boost my blood counts when they dipped close to bottom. I would also recommend it.

    Teresa
  • tropicmom
    tropicmom Member Posts: 88
    edited August 2007
    I had it during chemo. It took away the "yucky" feeling from chemo. Helped the nausea and constipation. I think it helped the blood counts too. Doc kinda snickers..
    Acupunture doesn't claim to get rid of cancer, but "they" say it can help by getting the body back in balance and working on the immune system. I believe it.
  • mtlion322
    mtlion322 Member Posts: 29
    edited August 2007
    It sounds good! I have such a yucky immune system to begin with! I know it won't cure this darn bug, but if it will make it easier and help boost the immune system and get rid of nausea, I need to find a good accupuncturist in my area!

    Cindy
    Stage II lobular 06-2007 no lymph node's
  • MaryGLA
    MaryGLA Member Posts: 330
    edited August 2007
    I had it during chemo. I would go in a few days before treatment and have accupuncture and a massage. I think it helped with side effects as I was able to keep up my normal routine more or less. (Some days way less). I am considering strating back with it because I've read it helps with hot flashes-my new best friend since starting Tamoxifen!

    Mary
  • acgw
    acgw Member Posts: 286
    edited August 2007
    I did not have acupuncture while undergoing chemo but had an amazing result with it for treatment of an unresolved, very weird pain in my mid back.
    I am a scientist at heart and I have no explanation for why it works but I am a believer.
    I have never heard of acupunture doing harm when performed by a licensed professional. That to me is the 'go ahead' when using any unproven remmedy.
    Mary- I am intrigued by the idea it may help my hot flashes. I actually crawled into bed tonight thinking, "Only 4 years and 4 months left of tamoxifen."
    Boy, could I use a break from the #(@*$&%^ power surges.
  • abreast_of_life
    abreast_of_life Member Posts: 44
    edited October 2007

    Hi,

    My mum and I have both had breast cancer.  You can read about acupuncture and breast cancer on my website which I created in my mother's memory.  It comes from reputable sources.

    www.abreastoflife.co.uk

    Take best, best care

    Love and blessings

  • DrWu
    DrWu Member Posts: 1
    edited October 2007

    I am very upset for cannot help as many people with cancer as before, I have been a acupuncturist for more than 15 years now. from 1992 to 2003, I worked for a Acupuncture and Chinese Medicne department in a Municipal Hospital in a coastal city in China, our department had many cancer patients,such as breast cancer, lung cancer, brain cancer, we have great effective treatment for breast cancer,brain cancer,lung cancer. my director had told me that from 1992 to 2003, there are almost 100 patients have recovery from their cancer and still live a health life till now.

      I know a lot about how to make a effective treatment for cancer by acupuncture and Chinese Medicine,the meridian points and herbal formula for cancer is quite different from normal disease,If an acupuncturist have not experience  in cancer treatment, he  or she  cannot  give  the best  treatment for their  patients.

      I immigrated to Canada  in 2003, I found  almost nobody  in canada  knows exactly Chinese  Medicine  and  acupuncture,  they  only know acupuncture is kinds of something like massage, some people even think that acupuncture clinic is somewhat like sex place.

      I used acupuncture in toronto most for pain relief, such as neck pain, back pain.

      I want to say I am not only for painrelief, what I have done best is for cancer treatment. I want to try my best to help cancer patients as I can.

  • angied808
    angied808 Member Posts: 30
    edited November 2007

    i also had it during chemo; it really really really saved me from a lot of suffering.  i had terrible nausea at first that wasn't really being helped by any meds, and my acupuncturist was wonderful.  i had to go in every 2-3 days to get more needles but it shocked me how well it worked.  i recommend it highly (and i was terrified of needles, now i can hardly wait).

  • cats_love_me
    cats_love_me Member Posts: 109
    edited November 2007

    http://www.nccaom.org/find.htm  is the national org for accredidation for accupuncturists, and oriental medicine.

    I got this info from my accupuncturist, when I was looking for one for my mom  in a different location.  He mentioned that the people would have 3 years of training to get this accredidation. 

    This is the national org, there may also be state org, where people belong to that and not the national org.   Make sure they are licensed by your state medical board, have some type of limited medical license (well this is the case for ohio, don't know about other states).

    Definitely ask your accupuncturist if they have treated other cancer patients.  Mine trained for many years in china before he was brought to the us to train people in the us.  He mentioned in china they treat cancer with a combination w/ both western medicine and traditional chinese methods (oreintal medicine and acupuncture).

    Connie 

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