An estimated 175,000 women have been diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States. Currently, the most common treatment is chemotherapy; which is accompanied by several side effects.

Sixty percent of patients report nauseousness following chemotherapy treatment; a major reason some patients refuse or discontinue treatment.

Numerous studies have shown Acupressure to be effective in relieving the nausea associated with pregnancy and surgery; a preliminary study has found Acupressure is also effective in relieving nausea associated with chemotherapy.

The study, published in Oncology Nursing Forum, found that patients who received Acupressure reported “significant differences” in nausea intensity and duration, compared to those patients not receiving Acupressure.

Seventeen women participated in the study. 50% received standard treatment associated with chemotherapy, and the remaining women received standard chemotherapy treatment in addition to Acupressure therapy.

Each patient completed a questionnaire prior to beginning chemotherapy.

Each patient was also required to maintain a daily log for 21 days to measure nausea on a scale of 0-12; and to record the intensity of nausea or vomiting during the previous 24 hours on a scale of 1-10.

Women who received Acupressure were taught how to access the acupoints on the knee and forearm, and how apply steady pressure for a maximum of three minutes, or until the point released. Acupressure was to be used each morning prior to chemotherapy and whenever nausea was experienced throughout the day. A compiled report of Acupressure use was also required to be maintained in the daily log.

At the end of the study, both groups completed a chemotherapy problem checklist to rate a total of 21 side effects on a scale of 1-5.

Results showed significant differences in both nausea experience and intensity. Women in the Acupressure group reported less nausea in seven of the first 10 days, by two points or more; the Acupressure group reported an average level of nausea at 2.83, whereas the average for the control group remained at 3.00.

Acupressure not only relieves the nausea associated with chemotherapy for the treatment of breast cancer, but is also easy to learn and apply as needed.

SOURCE: Acupuncture Today, www.acupuncturetoday.com, June 2000.