My dear sister was diagnosed with CLL nearly 2 years ago and is on watch and wait currently with a WBC of 28. She generally feels fine but complains about fatigue. I have heard that acupuncture can help in reducing symptoms or even possibly slowing down progression of the disease. Does anyone have any experience with this? Does anyone have any recommendations on how to find a great acupuncturist in the Los Angeles area? Thank you in advance for any suggestions and experiences that you have to share.
Much love ❤️
Efi
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Efig
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I have been going to acupuncture for 16 years. Got dx 12 years ago and just finished chemo and in remission.
I went to a specialist in cancer for acupuncture that my acupuncturist recommended. For 6 months my numbers stabilized. But then they went back to rising.
So my experience was it is great for any side effects and builds my immune system. Hardly ever got sick and when I did, it helped to shorten symptoms of cold etc. But it basically does not do much for CLL. Helped me thru chemo...had hardly any side effects. It did help with fatigue. During chemo I did not use homeopathic remedies. Supplements can interfere with treatment. I will wait 6 more months to go back on them.
I was diagnosed with CLL in July. I am currently on "watch and wait" with no treatment for the CLL. The fatigue was very difficult for me as I am a very active person. I was recommended a local acupuncturist. He has his master's degree in Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture and is registered as a OMD (Oriental Medical Doctor) in my state. I go for treatment 1x a week and also take herbal solutions to help with fatigue and immunity. I can honestly say it has given me my productive life back. My family has had colds on and off for the past 2 months and I have been able to stay healthy so far. Best wishes for your sister!
There is a surprisingly large published literature on the clinical effects of acupuncture.
:
Taken as a whole, the pattern of the acupuncture literature follows one with which scientists are very familiar: the more tightly controlled the study the smaller the effect, and the best-controlled trials are negative. This pattern is highly predictive of a null-effect – that there is no actual effect from acupuncture. (My emphasis)
Those finding that they gain benefits from acupuncture may be gaining benefit from something else - for example the use of a TENS machine providing electrically stimulation. Years before my CLL diagnosis, I developed severe back pain and of all the remedies I tried, I found that acupuncture provided at least temporary pain relief from my physiotherapist using a TENS machine with the acupuncture needles.
Per Acupuncture Tops Usual Care for Pain in Cancer Survivors
— Two types of acupuncture proved superior, with one better than the other
Note that per the accompanying picture in the above referenced article, "Electroacupuncture reduced patient-reported pain by 1.9 points versus usual care."
I would be very cautious about having that done today, given that even the slight risk of skin infections could have serious consequences in an immune compromised CLL patient:
"Inadequate skin disinfection before acupuncture may result in transmission of pyogenic (pus forming - Neil) bacteria from the patient's skin flora or the environment. Localized infections typically occur along meridians or at acupuncture point.
Although the prognosis is good for most of these infections, about 5% to 10% of reported pyogenic bacterial infections are fatal, and another 10% or more result in serious complications including:
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