Acupuncture for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in a Brazilian hospital—An exploratory study

IntroductionIntegrative Oncology when combined with conventional care can be effective and reduce adverse symptoms of cancer and its treatment. The purpose of this exploratory study was to explore whether individualized acupuncture given to cancer patients at a Brazilian hospital improved symptoms and wellbeing.MethodsThis exploratory study was carried out between May 2012 and January 2013. Data from twenty patients who received 8 weekly acupuncture sessions were compared before and after their treatment and also with data from 9 patients who did not receive acupuncture, who acted as comparison group. An adapted version of the MYMOP was used to identify patients’ self-reported symptoms and perceptions of wellbeing.ResultsAfter completing the acupuncture sessions with the intervention group, 17 patients reported feeling significantly better (p > .0001), one felt worse, one reported no change and one could not be evaluated because he was asymptomatic. Of the comparison group five patients reported feeling better and four felt worse, results were not significantly different. The Student t test was used to compare differences between the acupuncture and comparison group. The results for the intervention group achieved statistically significant changes (p value = 0.016), compared to the comparison group.ConclusionThe acupuncture practice delivered as part of the integrative care in oncology produced clinically and statistically significant changes for the majority of the patients undergoing cancer treatment, resulting in improvements in patients’ self reported wellbeing.