INTEGRATIVE ONCOLOGY

Acupuncturists who work with cancer patients have had additional training in oncology care and work within multidisciplinary care teams. The American Society of Clinical Oncology and Society of Integrative Oncology’s guidelines endorse acupuncture as a safe and effective complementary therapy for managing specific cancer-related symptoms including joint pain from aromatase inhibitors, chronic musculoskeletal pain, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and radiation-induced xerostomia.

Among National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centres in the U.S., 89% recommend the use of acupuncture for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, hot flashes, anxiety, depression, poor appetite, constipation and diarrhea. The body of evidence continues to grow for acupuncture’s effects in addressing other symptoms.

Erin works with cancer patients throughout the treatment process and into survivorship. Typically, upon diagnosis, we begin helping you prepare your body for cancer treatment—whether it’s surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy. We use acupuncture to minimize the side effects of cancer treatments and to maintain homeostasis, or metabolic balance, within the body. No herbs or supplements are used during systemic cancer treatments due to the potential for interactions with medications.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Before your first session, please email any relevant diagnostic summaries (written reports, not the scans themselves), treatment plan details and dates, and your most recent bloodwork.

During the first 75-minute session, we will review your treatment plan, determine the timing of acupuncture sessions, and discuss your health history. I will assess your pulse on both sides to evaluate the balance between organ systems and examine your tongue—these diagnostics provide insight into your current state of health. We will perform acupuncture, and may treat both the front and back of your body depending on how far out you are from surgery or whether you have a port. Side-lying is a comfortable option if back treatment is needed.

Follow-up sessions may be 45 or 60 minutes, depending on your needs.

Please ensure you have eaten something before your acupuncture treatment.

If you have any questions, please email Lisa