Evaluating physical and emotional well-being in women using traditional acupuncture to manage tamoxifen side-effects

Objective

To measure long-term changes in physical and emotional well-being in women with early breast cancer participating in a study that evaluated, as its primary outcome, the effectiveness of using traditional acupuncture to manage tamoxifen-induced hot flushes and night sweats.

Materials and methods

Fifty-two women (> 6 months post active cancer treatment, taking tamoxifen for 6 months or longer, and with more than three flushes or sweats in a 24-h period) were given eight weekly acupuncture treatments, according to traditional acupuncture diagnosis and individualised treatment plans.

Outcome measures included Hot Flush Diaries, the Women’s Health Questionnaire (WHQ) and the Subjective Measure of Vasomotor Symptoms, which has a problem-rating factor (combining distress, problem, and interference) and a coping/control factor. These were administered at baseline, and at 6, 10 (EOT), 14 and 28 weeks.

Results

Analysis of the data comparing baseline with 28 weeks showed a 33% reduction in the median number of hot flushes per day from nine to six (P < 0.0001). Non-parametric repeated measures analysis (Friedman test) of the WHQ showed that while symptom reduction was greatest at EOT, significant reductions were still maintained at 28 weeks, including anxiety (28%, P < 0.001), depression (14%, P = 0.028), memory (27%, P < 0.001), sleep (27%, P < 0.001), somatic (22%, P < 0.001). The problem factor reduced by 34% at EOT, and 26% at 28 weeks (P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

These results support the theory that early breast cancer patients receiving traditional acupuncture for hot flushes experience a wider benefit than just control of their primary presenting symptoms, and suggest that these benefits can be significantly maintained over time.