How Can Acupuncture Help During Cancer Treatment?

During cancer treatment acupuncture offers relief for a number of side effects associated with chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery..

Having worked in a regional cancer center for years, I’ve seen time and again the toll a diagnosis takes: not only on the body, but on relationships, identity, and the very rhythm of daily life. Treatments can save lives, yet they often come with side effects that reach far beyond the physical. Fatigue, peripheral neuropathy, and pain aren’t just inconveniences; they shape how a person feels about their body, their choices, and their capacity to keep going. Sometimes treatment may even need to be paused because of how severe these effects become.

One powerful holistic support during cancer treatment that many patients are not aware of is acupuncture. In the hands of a well-trained professional it offers time-tested, research-backed relief that complements medical treatment and supports the work of an oncology team.

Research and clinical practice show that acupuncture can ease some of the most common treatment-related symptoms, including:

• Peripheral neuropathy

• Anxiety

• Sleep disturbance

• Hot flashes and night sweats

• Pain

• Dry mouth

• Nausea, vomiting, and heartburn

• Abdominal discomfort or loose bowels

Beyond the list of symptoms and side effects, holistic care, including acupuncture, offers the possibility of feeling more at home in your body during a time when so much feels uncertain. Acupuncture invites the nervous system to recalibrate, allowing your body to repair and your mind to rest. Part of healing is learning how to live well in the midst of difficulty, and acupuncture can be a valuable support on that path.