Abstract
Radiation therapy (RT) is the standard therapy for many cancers. This chapter summarizes the various effects of RT on different tissues of the body and presents considerations for the use of acupuncture as an integrated treatment for symptoms referable to RT in terms of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine. Many common side effects of RT are presented, including xerostomia, skin irritation and burns, nausea, vomiting, neutropenia and fatigue. The mechanisms of acupuncture's effects are discussed, including increase of fibroblast, decrease of inflammatory cytokines, as well as increase of T lymphocytes, adenosine, neuropeptides, opioid peptides and peptide hormones. A brief explanation is given on how TCM theory is applied to enhance a patient’s overall wellness from both the TCM and Western medical perspectives. The concept of “symptom clusters” is addressed, showing how TCM is well-suited for this phenomenon. Acupuncture may be used as a safe adjunct to help preventing and minimizing the side effects of RT, enabling cancer patients to continue and complete their RT on schedule.
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Stone, J.A., Greene, S.C., Johnstone, P. (2012). Acupuncture for the Treatment of Symptoms Associated with Radiation Therapy. In: Cho, W. (eds) Acupuncture and Moxibustion as an Evidence-based Therapy for Cancer. Evidence-based Anticancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4833-0_8
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