Acupuncture can relieve hot flashes associated with hormone therapy for breast cancer About 64% of breast cancer patients receiving acupuncture reported fewer and less intense hot flashes Hormone therapy blocks the effect of estrogen and other hormones that can fuel some breast cancers THURSDAY, June 27, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Acupuncture can help patients deal with the hot flashes that often accompany hormone therapy, a new clinical trial says. Nearly 2 in 3 women who got acupuncture during hormone therapy reported fewer and less intense hot flashes, results show. Hormone therapy blocks the effect of estrogen and other hormones that powers some breast cancers.
Unfortunately, 4 in 5 patients (80%) experience hot flashes and other side effects associated with hormone deficiencies, researchers said. This causes some patients to drop hormone therapy, increasing their risk of cancer progression and death. “By managing side effects, our approach makes it easier for patients to continue their prescribed medication, which has the potential to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence and improve long-term outcomes for breast cancer survivors,” researcher , lead oncology acupuncturist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, said in a news release.
For , researchers recruited 158 women with early to advanced breast cancers who were receiving hormone therapy. Half were randomly assigned to receive acupuncture twice a week for 10 weeks. About 64% of women who got acupuncture rep.