For cancer patients, pain can come from the cancer itself, chronic inflammatory changes or infections. Standard cancer treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy can also cause pain, but despite its common occurrence, pain is a frequent source of patient anxiety due to improper management.
Acupuncture can be used as an additional and complimentary treatment for the side effects that cancer patients experience, such as overall pain and nausea (caused by other cancer treatments like chemotherapy). NCI reports that clinical studies of acupuncture as a treatment for cancer show that acupuncture can reduce vomiting and nausea caused by chemotherapy. They also found that acupuncture may improve the immune system, helping cancer patients to fight their condition and its side effects.
The physical responses acupuncture can induce in nerve cells, the pituitary gland and parts of the brain can cause the body to release hormones, proteins and certain brain chemicals that affect a range of bodily functions. Through this response, it is proposed that acupuncture can affect blood pressure and body temperature, enhance immune system function, and prompts the body to release natural pain killers (such as endorphins).
Considered a natural form of treatment, acupuncture can help to treat side effects of cancers that are caused by exposure to natural, environmental forces, such as UV rays, radon or the toxic mineral asbestos. Clinical research currently suggests that a number of cancers are caused by exposure to environmental forces in those who happen to be genetically predisposed. A notable example includes skin cancer, but other lesser-known cancers, including the rare cancer mesothelioma, are also caused by exposure to environmental toxins. Asbestos exposure is one of the only causes of mesothelioma, and it is even linked to ovarian and prostate cancer. Patients coping with the symptoms and side effects of these cancers have reported relief after receiving acupuncture.
Though the benefits of acupuncture are still questioned by some medical professionals, numerous cancer patients have attested to the healing effects of this age-old treatment approach. Acupuncture, along with other forms of alternative medicine such as massage, meditation and yoga, have certainly gained support from countless cancer patients, and clinical trials continue to provide scientific evidence of the benefits of this treatment.
Acupuncture is enhanced immune function. Specific acupuncture points can increase red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
Acupuncture also may stimulate steroid levels and other hormones, such as melatonin, that could have anti-tumor activity.
Acupuncture may also be helpful for post-radiotherapy contracture of the jaw muscle. Acupuncture can also be effective in managing edema.
Acupuncture may help in the treatment of fatigue and body wasting through the modulation of cytokines and hormones.
Acupuncture calms nausea and vomiting. Furthermore, some acupuncture points increase the anti-emetic effect of drugs before and after surgery, and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
Acupuncture can be effective in managing pain in cancer and during radiation treatment.
Acupuncture has been found to reverse those effects by increasing blood flow to the salivary glands. then it help dry mouth...
My website:www.backachetherapy.co.uk
BBC health:Men who are more sexually active in their 20s and 30s may run a higher risk of prostate cancer, research suggests.
The evidence is not convincing to suggest acupuncture is an effective treatment for hot flush in patients with PC. Further research is required to investigate whether acupuncture has hot-flush-specific effects(source:Support Care Cancer. 2009 Feb 18.)
There is controversy as to whether men with a history of prostate cancer should receive hormone treatment for low testosterone. Since the risk of prostate cancer can theoretically increase with increased testosterone levels, the FDA says that testosterone replacement therapy is contraindicated for men with a history of prostate cancer.
However, studies have not shown a clear link between testosterone supplementation and prostate cancer, and an emerging movement of physicians are pushing for select symptomatic men with a history of prostate cancer to be allowed treatment for low testosterone levels.(sourse:kevinMD blog)
