Hormone therapy is a common treatment used to block estrogen that can fuel breast cancer growth. But new research shows acupuncture may be just as effective as an antidepressant at reducing depression and mood swings associated with the use of hormones.
According to a statement from the American Cancer Society, taking the estrogen-blocking drug tamoxifen for five years after surgery reduces the risk that breast cancer will resurface. And drugs such as letrozole (Femara®) and anastrozole (Arimidex®) block the enzyme aromatasewhich produces small amounts of estrogen in post-menopausal women.
But taking these estrogen-blocking drugs can produce uncomfortable side effects such as fatigue hot flashes vaginal discharge and mood swings. Steroids or antidepressant prescription drugs can also cause weight gain, loss of libido and nausea.
In this study, researchers at Henry Ford Hospital Department of Radiation Oncology in Detroit, Mich., studied 47 women who were taking either tamoxifen or anastrozole. The women also had at least 14 hot flashes per week.
Researchers split the women into two groups over the course of 12 weeks: 1) one group of 24 women who received acupuncture and 2) one group of 23 women who took the antidepressant venlafaxine (Effexor®).
After 12 weeks, researchers noted that both groups experienced fewer hot flashes and menopausal symptomsand less depression, too! But heres the difference
The women treated with acupuncture reported no adverse effects. In fact, the patients said they felt more energized and had increased energy, clarity of thought and sexual desire compared to before the treatment!
In contrast, the group taking Effexor® reported side effects including nausea, headaches, insomnia, dizziness, increased blood pressure, constipation and body jerking during the night.
Our study shows that physicians and patients have an additional therapy for something that affects the majority of breast cancer survivors and actually has benefits, as opposed to more side effects, said Eleanor Walker, M.D., lead author of the study and a radiation oncologist at the Henry Ford Hospital.
The researchers said that while these study results show acupuncture could be an effective alternative to antidepressants for treating side effects of hormone therapymore research is needed to back this claim.