accupuncture and chemo

winediva
winediva Member Posts: 26
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Anyone have any experience, positive or negative, with accupunture during chemotherapy? Just curious...

Comments

  • StacyGleaso
    StacyGleaso Member Posts: 1,233 Member
    #2
    Hey, Chris!

    Glad you found the board!! I am confident you'll find support, laughter, and the occasional heated debate on this site like no other!

    Happy Saturday,

    Stacy<--your Indiana pal
  • rmap59
    rmap59 Member Posts: 266
    #3
    Hi,
    I used accupunture during my chemo last year and I believe it helped me with the neuopathy and headaches that I experienced after the first injection of oxalplatin(sp?). It was also a very relaxing experience and I looked forward to going. I found a very good accupunturist through a friend of a friend. If you decide to try it get someone who you trust, preferably through a referral from someone who has used them before. I was lucky enough to get a Christian man who also believed in prayer and held the same believes as me.
    Good Luck, Robin
  • lfondots63
    lfondots63 Member Posts: 818 Member
    #4
    Hi,

    I did accupuncture for the nausea and neuropathy during chemo. I think it helped me. I felt that any thing I could do to lessen the effects of the chemo, I would try. The thing that helped the most and I know is not talked about much here was Reiki. It helped with all the negative effects like feelings also. I felt so relaxed after it. If you ever want to find out more, send me an e-mail here. HUGS and positve vibes your way.

    Lisa F
  • usakat
    usakat Member Posts: 610 Member
    #5
    Hello Diva,

    Glad to see you back. Hope all is going well. When do you start chemo? Or have you already started?

    Anyway, like Lisa, I did Reiki. It was wonderful and it did help me. I believe it works through the mind/body connection. The way it helped me is that it allowed me to relax and mentally change my thought patterns so I could change my focus from the chemo side effects to thoughts of healing and comfort.

    You can find a lot about various Eastern practices on the Internet, some positive, some not, either way I think the benefit is more personal in nature. If you believe they will work, they will....if you don't, they won't. See what I mean? I believe this is also applicable to Western medicine protocols too.

    I hope this helps...and wishing you well...
    Katie
  • pamness
    pamness Member Posts: 524 Member
    #6
    I personally didn't try it, but it was very highly touted at Mass General in Boston where I went for treatment. I went the yoga route and found it helpful. Have heard good thing about acupunture thought.

    Pam
  • winediva
    winediva Member Posts: 26
    #7
    Cool! Exactly the kind of info and responses i was looking for. yea!

    I started chemo on Wed and had very few side effects. The sensitivity to cold and such was strongest on day 1 and day 3 brought some queasy feelings that I quickly squashed with drugs and some red wine :).

    I have an accupuncturist (is that what they are officially called?) that several friends visit regularly and happens to be covered by my health insurance. Bonus! I'll check out some reiki soon though. I'm not up for massage therapy just yet as laying on my belly still kinda hurts, but I'm willing to give anything a shot. Particularly if its not crazy expensive.

    You all have inspired me to go try out some yoga at Gilda's Club though. I've never thought of myself as a "yoga type", but who knows? Maybe I am!
    many many thanks,
    Chris
  • pamness
    pamness Member Posts: 524 Member
    #8
    winediva said:

    Cool! Exactly the kind of info and responses i was looking for. yea!

    I started chemo on Wed and had very few side effects. The sensitivity to cold and such was strongest on day 1 and day 3 brought some queasy feelings that I quickly squashed with drugs and some red wine :).

    I have an accupuncturist (is that what they are officially called?) that several friends visit regularly and happens to be covered by my health insurance. Bonus! I'll check out some reiki soon though. I'm not up for massage therapy just yet as laying on my belly still kinda hurts, but I'm willing to give anything a shot. Particularly if its not crazy expensive.

    You all have inspired me to go try out some yoga at Gilda's Club though. I've never thought of myself as a "yoga type", but who knows? Maybe I am!
    many many thanks,
    Chris

    I never thought of myself as the yoga type, either, but I have changed my mind. My dad was a real Onephile and I inherited his huge wine collection. I'm glad you were able to enjoy a glass of red wine and are generally feeling good. Hope it continues.

    Pam
  • kristasplace
    kristasplace Member Posts: 957 Member
    #9
    I wanted to do acupuncture during my initial chemoradiation treatments, and none of my doctors wanted me to. They didn't want me taking antioxidants during, and one of my nurses said i still shouldn't do anything detoxifying. I don't know if it's because the detox will lessen the chemo effects, or if the cancer cells will thrive on antioxidants as healthy cells do. I think my oncologist said a long time ago that antioxidants can lessen the effect of the radiation, but i'm not sure about that.

    I give my body whatever it craves as per an agreement i made last year, and right now it's craving blueberries, a very high antioxidant! Sorry doc!

    Many hugs,
    Krista
  • winediva
    winediva Member Posts: 26
    #10
    kristasplace said:

    I wanted to do acupuncture during my initial chemoradiation treatments, and none of my doctors wanted me to. They didn't want me taking antioxidants during, and one of my nurses said i still shouldn't do anything detoxifying. I don't know if it's because the detox will lessen the chemo effects, or if the cancer cells will thrive on antioxidants as healthy cells do. I think my oncologist said a long time ago that antioxidants can lessen the effect of the radiation, but i'm not sure about that.

    I give my body whatever it craves as per an agreement i made last year, and right now it's craving blueberries, a very high antioxidant! Sorry doc!

    Many hugs,
    Krista

    Mmmmm...blueberries. The strawberries at my farmer's market right now are amazing too. I top them with a touch of Amaretto and cream.
  • DK2006
    DK2006 Member Posts: 126
    #11
    Hi,
    I did accupuncture during chemo. It was awesome! I felt less fatigue and nausea because of it.
    Best wishes,
    Donna

Discussion Boards