Question for those that have tried acupuncture.

I finished my radiation and chemo (cysplatin) for tonsilar squamous cell cancer, Stage 3 spread to neck lumph node, HPV+, three weeks ago.  At the urging of my daughter and neice (who is a nurse practitioner) I had weekly acupunture sessions throughout the course of treatment.  Cysplatin can cause permanent neuropathy and tinnitis.  The acupuncturist, who specializes in treating cancer patients, concentrated on those side effects.  I can report that I've finished treatment with no symptoms of neuropathy of tinnitis, which had been a real concern of mine. 

My husband has just completed 7 of 35 radiation treatments and 1 of 7 chemo (cetuximab). We started him on acupuncture on day 3 of radiation. He had acupuncture again this week. He says it is helping. The acupuncturist also does cupping on his back at the end of the session to help with the pain he is having from the tumor on his neck that is pressing on his ear & spine. (He has stage 4 SCC at BOT HPV+). She has given some really good suggestions too: avoid dairy as it feeds a virus and causes the body to produce more mucous. Also, she suggested he drink aloe Vera juice to help with throat pain. He is on this schedule now: chemo & radiation Mondays, radiation Tuesday- Friday. He gets acupuncture on Wednesdays. After about week 3 we will add an additional acupuncture treatment. It also boosts his immune system.

My husband was diagnosed with stage IV tonsil CA, HPV+, three years ago. After chemo and radiation were finished he tried acupuncture to help with his lack of saliva. He went to an acupuncturist that he found through UCLA, who specialized in treating the side effects related to cancer therapy. He went twice a week and found that the acupuncture was helpful, however, it didn’t seem to last. Although he did feel it was beneficial, after several weeks he decided it was too much effort, as the office wasn’t all that close to our home. I suppose if the results had been incredible he would have stayed with it, but as I said, it was only a moderate improvement. Over the past couple of years his saliva has very slowly improved, without additional acupuncture treatments. Maybe it would have done so anyway, but it did seemed to jump start his saliva production. He doesn’t regret his decision to try it, but it wasn’t an overwhelming response. I hope this helps. 

It depends on what symptoms you're seeking treatment for.  I went to see an acupuncturist for neuropathy and it didn't help at all.  But then the doctor told me it was doubtful his treatments would help but nothing else seemed to work so I did it anyway.  Overall it was a good experience.  Very calming and a great inviroment provided. When a surgeon disturbs a nerve, nothing but time will help it go away.  Two years later it diminished to tolerable.