We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
The effect of acupuncture on chemotherapy-associated gastrointestinal symptoms in gastric cancer.
- Authors
Zhou, J.; Fang, L.; Wu, W. Y.; He, F.; Zhang, X. L.; Zhou, X.; Xiong, Z. J.
- Abstract
Background Gastrointestinal (gi) symptoms are the most notable side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs; such symptoms are currently treated with drugs. In the present study, we investigated the effect of acupuncture on gi symptoms induced by chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Methods A cohort of 56 patients was randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group. All patients received combination chemotherapy with oxaliplatin-paclitaxel. Patients in the experimental group received 30 minutes of acupuncture therapy daily for 2 weeks. The frequency and duration of nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, the average days and costs of hospitalization, and quality-of-life scores were compared between the groups. Results Nausea was sustained for 32 ± 5 minutes and 11 ± 3 minutes daily in the control and experimental groups respectively (p < 0.05). On average, vomiting occurred 2 ± 1 times daily in the experimental group and 4 ± 1 times daily in the control group (p < 0.05). Abdominal pain persisted for 7 ± 2 minutes and 16 ± 5 minutes daily in the experimental and control groups respectively (p < 0.05). On average, diarrhea occurred 1 ± 1 times daily in the experimental group and 3 ± 1 times daily in the control group (p < 0.05). The average quality-of-life score was higher in the experimental group than in the control group (p < 0.05). No adverse events were observed for the patients receiving acupuncture. Conclusions Acupuncture, a safe technique, could significantly reduce gi symptoms induced by chemotherapy and enhance quality of life in patients with advanced gastric cancer.
- Subjects
GASTROINTESTINAL disease treatment; CHEMOTHERAPY complications; ACUPUNCTURE; STOMACH cancer treatment; QUALITY of life; NAUSEA; PREVENTION
- Publication
Current Oncology, 2017, Vol 24, Issue 1, pe1
- ISSN
1198-0052
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3747/co.24.3296