title: Acupuncture in the treatment of menopause-related symptoms in women taking tamoxifen.
abstract: Fifteen patients were enrolled in a pilot study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of menopausal symptoms in tamoxifen-treated patients. Patients were evaluated before treatment and after one, three and six months with the Greene Menopause Index and were treated according to the traditional Chinese medicine. Anxiety, depression, somatic and vasomotor symptoms were improved by the treatment; libido was not modified. Acupuncture seems to be safe and effective for the treatment of menopausal symptoms in women with previous breast cancer taking tamoxifen. Confirmatory studies with a larger number of patients and with a placebo-treated group are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, University of L'Aquila, Italy. porzio1@interfree.it
authors.forename: Giampiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Porzio
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Trapasso
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martelli
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sallusti
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Piccone
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mattei
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Stanislao
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ficorella
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marchetti
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D013629:Tamoxifen