Acupuncture and Reflexology for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Breast Cancer.
Treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), which affects approximately 30% to 40% of patients treated with neuropathy-causing agents, is mainly symptomatic. Currently available interventions are of little benefit.



This study was conducted as a retrospective analysis of the efficacy of acupuncture and reflexology in alleviating CIPN in breast cancer patients.



Medical records of 30 consecutive breast cancer patients who received both chemotherapy and treatment for CIPN according to our Acupuncture and Reflexology Treatment for Neuropathy (ART-N) protocol between 2011 and 2012 were reviewed. Symptom severity was rated at baseline, during, and after treatment.



The records of 30 breast cancer patients who had been concomitantly treated with chemotherapy and ART-N for CIPN were retrieved. Two records were incomplete, leaving a total of 28 patients who were enrolled into the study. Twenty patients (71%) had sensory neuropathy, 7 (25%) had motor neuropathy, and 1 (4%) had both sensory and motor neuropathy. Only 2 (10%) of the 20 patients with grades 1 to 2 neuropathy still reported symptoms at 12 months since starting the ART-N protocol. All 8 patients who presented with grades 3 to 4 neuropathy were symptom-free at the 12-month evaluation. Overall, 26 patients (93%) had complete resolution of CIPN symptoms.



The results of this study demonstrated that a joint protocol of acupuncture and reflexology has a potential to improve symptoms of CIPN in breast cancer patients. The protocol should be validated on a larger cohort with a control group. It also warrants testing as a preventive intervention.
1 Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Idan
I
Ben-Horin
1 Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Peretz
P
Kahan
1 Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Larisa
L
Ryvo
1 Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Moshe
M
Inbar
1 Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Shahar
S
Lev-Ari
1 Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Ravit
R
Geva
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
acupuncture; breast cancer; chemotherapy; peripheral neuropathy; reflexology