Acupuncture Risks with Cancer Treatment

Being part of the cancer treatment team at Central Vermont Medical Center is truly an honor. For most people, cancer of any form at any stage is a very difficult diagnosis. The staff at our local treatment center values complementary therapies as acupuncture as supportive tools to help manage anxiety, fatigue, pain, or any other symptom that may come up from the disease or the treatment process. Because of my particular interest in supporting these patients, I’ve undergone various training in using acupuncture in oncology care. Some people ask about any potential risks with using these needles for cancer patients. I don’t mean to make anyone nervous around the safe medical practice of acupuncture, but it is a common question that is worth answering here.

General Risks of Acupuncture

Remember acupuncture uses very fine and solid, stainless steel needles. There is no fluid in the needles, so they can be made very thin and often not even perceived. They are placed through the skin layer and into muscle tissue, not into nerves as many often wonder. However, there are some general risks associated with acupuncture treatment, not solely during cancer treatment. Though all acupuncture needles are sterilized when packaged and used only once, there can theoretically be a risk of infection considering the needle is inserted through the skin layer of the body. This is a very small risk and the author is not aware of any recorded cases of infection from acupuncture. Licensed acupuncturists are trained and certified in Clean Needle Technique, which includes creating an appropriate clean needle field in the treatment room, swabbing the points with alcohol before needling, and properly disposing of needles.

The licensed acupuncturist is also acutely aware of what structures lie at the point being needled. There must be an understanding of the general anatomy and consideration of the larger vessels, nerves, and tendons. A hematoma, or bruise, occasionally occurs if the needle penetrates a small vessel within the muscle tissue that may not even be felt upon insertion. This resolves in a few days. If someone is on a blood thinner, it may take a day or two longer for the bruise to disappear, but the tiny, needle-sized puncture of a small vessel is not of major concern. Of any risk from using acupuncture, my experience is that such a minor bruise can occasionally occur.

There are certain points that are avoided during pregnancy, as they can encourage downward action and potentially compromise the security of the baby in the womb. These points, however, are used effectively at the end of pregnancy to prepare for and encourage labor. Aside from during the final weeks of pregnancy, they can also be helpful at regulating menstruation.

Specific Risks When Supporting Cancer Treatment

One concern that often comes up during cancer treatment when using acupuncture is when there has been removal of lymph nodes. Because the lymphatic flow is now compromised from the removal of the nodes, there can be swelling or lymphedema. This is common with the removal of axillary nodes with breast cancer. Sometimes the oncologist may suggest that the acupuncturist avoid needling the arm with lymphedema in this case. This is because if there were an introduction of a virus or bacteria through the skin, it would be more challenging to deal with an infection without those lymph nodes and with poor lymphatic circulation. Again, this is somewhat theoretical, as there is a very minimal chance of infection with appropriate needling and clean needle technique.

Another concern that also comes up during cancer care is when there are low platelet counts. This could be part of the cancer itself or due to the chemotherapy. If a needle goes through a tiny capillary, which may not even be felt, platelets are needed to heal that micro-injury. With lower numbers of platelets, it would take longer to heal and a bruise would most likely be produced. In the author’s experience, people going through cancer treatment may bruise just as rarely as anyone getting acupuncture. If platelet counts are low enough, the oncologist may advise against acupuncture care.

Acupuncture’s Benefits Outweigh the Minimal Risks

Aside from what’s been mentioned here, there are no other significant risks to consider when undergoing cancer treatment. The benefits of acupuncture when receiving chemotherapy, radiation, or after surgery are well documented. The relief from nausea, fatigue, dry mouth, insomnia, anxiety, pain, and neuropathy is so helpful that the potential risks involved with acupuncture are relatively insignificant. You can work cooperatively with your oncologist and your acupuncturist to keep open communication during your treatment with any concerns that may arise.

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