Can Ancient Needles Be the Secret Weapon Against Hormonal Havoc?

Acupuncture can reduce the hormonal side effects of endocrine therapy in women with breast cancer.

I am an oncologist and treat many women with breast cancer.

Many benefit from strategies targeting estrogen, a food that most breast cancers use.

Unfortunately, this survival-improving tool is associated with side effects like hot flashes.

At least 80 percent of patients receiving endocrine therapy experience hot flashes and other hormonal side effects.

Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash

These side effects often lead to treatment discontinuation, increasing the risk of cancer progression and mortality.

A new study suggests the promise of acupuncture for reducing hot flashes.

While the study looked specifically at women experiencing cancer treatment-related hot flashes, women experiencing menopause may benefit from this broad overview of acupuncture.

A Side Note