Think Pinker

Thanks to a great deal of research there are now life saving treatments for breast cancer. And although no women is complaining compared to the alternative, these treatments leave women with a host of side effects that can make coping just that much more difficult.

These side effects include night sweats, hot flashes, fatigue, and many others. Up until today the most common treatment used was antidepressants which helped some to relieve some of the symptoms. However, recently acupuncture has been used rather than antidepressants with results that are even better, and because acupuncture has no side effects you don’t land up with side effects compounding on more side effects turning it into a real nightmare.

Acupuncture’s not new. It’s been used in Chinese medicine since the earliest times. Acupuncture works by blocking the flow of energy and by releasing endorphins. There’s not enough room here to get into the details but what’s important is that recent studies are proving its effectiveness.

Women undergoing breast cancer treatments have a lot to deal with. Most still have families and careers to deal with, and having to deal with side effects like nausea or hot flashes. Plus the studies showed that women with the acupuncture treatments had higher levels of energy.

All that said, apparently the time isn’t quite here to run out and sign on to acupuncture treatments. According to the Washington Post,  Dr Jay Brooks chairmen of oncology at Ochsner Health System says larger studies need to occur before acupuncture can be recommended. Discuss this option with your oncologist and primary care physician and together you can decide if it might be right for you.