Acupuncture's use in cancer patients has been recommended by the American Cancer Society (ACS) for the treatment of cancer and treatment-related symptoms. Pain, nausea, breathlessness, vasomotor symptoms and limb edema have all been found to respond to acupuncture and Chinese herbs.

Acupuncture can also act against carcinogens (factors attributable to cancer development) through its ability to reduce stress and enhance immune function. Today, several cancer centers have begun incorporating acupuncture for treating cancer-related symptoms such as pain and many patients have had significant results in the reduction of their symptoms.

For conditions where the cancer is detected early, acupuncture can maintain and promote the normal functioning of the body. Several studies have shown its ability to boost the immune system and encourage the growth of healthy functioning cells. This could be important for counteracting the result of radiation and chemotherapy that tend to attack both normal and abnormal cells. An additional benefit of acupuncture is that it can induce a state of deep calm and relaxation and alleviate physical and emotional tensions.

In cases where a tumour has formed, acupuncture can be used pre- and post-operatively where appropriate as an adjuvant therapy to surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. According to a study done by Poulain (1997) on 250 patients who underwent gynecological surgery for cancer, acupuncture was shown to speed recovery time. A recent study done by Aldridge (2001) on a series of 40 breast cancer patients, found that acupuncture could reduce nausea and vomiting following surgery and significantly reduce post-operative pain.

For advanced stages of cancer, acupuncture can be used in conjunction with other forms of palliative care to significantly reduce the sensation of pain. In some cases, patients may be able to reduce the dosage of pain medication substantially and thereby avoid the harsh side effects that are often associated with them.

For many people undergoing chemotherapy, the dreaded side effect of nausea and vomiting is more sickening than the chemotherapy itself. A study conducted at the University of Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine found significant reduction of nausea and vomiting when the patients were treated with acupuncture before undergoing chemotherapy. American Cancer Society reports that acupuncture is now routinely administered before, after and in between chemotherapy treatment sessions for control of nausea and emesis. Use of acupuncture helps in minimizing the use of standard, expensive multi-drug anti-nausea regimens with their attendant side effects for chemotherapy patients.

Another clinical trial found that acupuncture was effective in reducing the number of hot flashes experienced by men after prostate cancer hormonal therapy.