Acupuncture and fatigue: current basis for shared communication between breast cancer survivors and providers.
BACKGROUND
Fatigue is the most common symptom reported by survivors of cancer. At present the medical community lacks evidence-based options for its management.


METHODS
This paper describes the rationale, current evidence, and research in progress as related to the use of acupuncture as a potential option.


RESULTS
Preliminary evidence suggests that clinicians and cancer survivors may find benefit in considering acupuncture as an option for managing fatigue; this is especially appealing since acupuncture appears to be a safe medical technique. We draw upon our research and clinical experience to generate a description of considerations for patient and provider when thinking about acupuncture as an option for the management of fatigue in non-anemic, disease-free breast cancer survivors.


CONCLUSIONS
Research examining its relative effectiveness and potential for integration with other approaches is a logical next step if the results from RCTs are positive.


CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture is not routinely considered in mainstream discussions of options for fatigue management. While future research will more clearly determine its relative effectiveness, given the present options available clinicians and breast cancer survivors may find benefit in considering and discussing acupuncture as an approach for managing persistent fatigue.
Johnston
Michael Francis
MF
Center for East-West Medicine, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA. johnston@ucla.edu
Xiao
Bo
B
Hui
Ka-Kit
KK
D026881:Acupuncture / Q000379:methods*; D015669:Acupuncture Points; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D003142:Communication; D003657:Decision Making; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D017741:Survivors