Effect of Acupuncture in Pain Management of Head and Neck Cancer Radiotherapy: Prospective Randomized Unicentric Study

Abstract

This prospective randomized open-label trial aimed to evaluate the role of acupuncture in the treatment of pain related to curative and adjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy of head and neck cancer. Patients in two arms (30 patients in each arm) underwent standard oncology therapy and standard supportive care with or without acupuncture. The stratification factors were the type of treatment and chemotherapy indication. The toxicity assessed was represented by pain rated on a 10-point pain scale and analgesic use. Average pain (AP) and the worst pain during the day (WP) were significantly lower in the acupuncture arm during radiotherapy (AP median 0.16 vs. 1.36, p < 0.001; WP median 0.90 vs. 1.96, p < 0.001) and three months after radiotherapy (AP median 0.07 vs. 0.50, p < 0.001; WP median 0.30 vs. 0.83, p = 0.002). The analgesic consumption between arms was statistically significantly different. A median of the proportion of days when the patients used analgesics was 8% and 32.5% during radiotherapy (p = 0.047) and 0% and 20.8% during three months after radiotherapy (p = 0.006) for the acupuncture and control arm, respectively. Results point out lower analgesic consumption and milder pain in acupuncture arm. Acupuncture consequently offers another alternative to standard treatment leading to a reduction in the toxicity of oncological treatment.

Auriculoterapia como prática integrativa para melhora da qualidade de vida em pacientes oncológicos

“…Vale ressaltar que a auriculoterapia é uma técnica de baixo custo e segura para os pacientes, gerando menos efeitos adversos, que são bastante recorrentes nos pacientes oncológicos (Dymackova et al, 2021). Como há elevada prevalência de efeitos colaterais e dores da doença não resolvidos nestes indivíduos com câncer, é primordial que se adote um melhor gerenciamento dos sintomas e uma minimização dos eventos adversos, visto que, além de toda a carga que a doença traz, os pacientes também enfrentam os efeitos colaterais dos tratamentos (Contim, Santo e Moretto, 2020).…”

The role of acupuncture as an adjunct pain relief option for people with cancer

“…All of the studies included in this review indicated that acupuncture had relatively few undesirable side effects (Vinjamury et al 2013, Tas et al 2014, Lam et al 2017, Wei-Min and Li 2021, Dymackova et al 2021, He et al 2022). In addition, as well as its effect on cancer related pain, Vinjamury et al (2013), Tas et al (2014), Wei-Min and Li (2021) and Dymackova et al…”

“…In the included studies, the analgesic effect of acupuncture was reported to be in association with other pain management interventions, not as a stand-alone therapy. Two studies specifically noted that acupuncture could reduce the amount of analgesic medication required by people living with cancer (Dymackova et al 2021, He et al 2022. None of the reviewed studies suggested that acupuncture increased analgesic use.…”

“…Only Dymackova et al 2021 acupuncture was an option that was acceptable to people living with cancer. There were no reports of participants finding acupuncture unacceptable, although this is perhaps accounted for by those being in the trails having been prepared to consent to the use of acupuncture.…”

Mechanism and application of acupuncture and electro‐acupuncture associated with cancer therapy

“…138 Recent studies have shown that AC is an effective and reliable treatment for cancer pain, [26][27][28] with fewer adverse effects 29 and the ability to reduce the amount of narcotic analgesics needed. [30][31][32]132,133 One case report suggested that AC significantly improved neuropathic pain caused…”