Acupuncture for Cancer Related Pain
Gentle Support for Pain During and After Cancer Treatment.
Living with cancer can bring many physical and emotional challenges, and pain is one of the most common and distressing symptoms experienced during treatment and recovery. Pain may arise from the cancer itself, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone treatment, or long-term changes to the body.At Nurcha Acupuncture, I offer gentle, individualised acupuncture care to support people navigating cancer treatment and recovery. Acupuncture may help reduce pain, improve comfort, and support quality of life alongside conventional medical care.I work collaboratively and respectfully within your medical treatment plan, offering acupuncture as a complementary therapy - never as a replacement for oncology care.
What Is Cancer-Related Pain?
Cancer-related pain can present in many ways and may vary from person to person.
It may include:Pain caused by tumours or cancer progression
Post-surgical pain after procedures or reconstruction
Muscle tension and body pain from treatment stress
Joint pain or aches associated with hormone therapies
Nerve-related discomfort, including chemotherapy-related symptoms
Ongoing pain experienced during survivorship
Pain can affect sleep, movement, emotional wellbeing, energy levels, and overall quality of life.
Can Acupuncture Help Cancer-Related Pain?
Research suggests acupuncture may help reduce certain types of cancer-related pain and improve comfort for some people when used as part of an integrated care approach.Acupuncture has increasingly been included in supportive cancer care internationally and is often used alongside conventional pain management strategies.
What does the research say about acupuncture?
A 2017 systematic review and meta-analysis published in the European Journal of Cancer Care analysed 29 randomised controlled trials investigating acupuncture for cancer-related pain.
Researchers found that acupuncture was associated with a significant reduction in cancer-related pain overall, particularly:
Pain caused by the cancer itself (malignancy-related pain)
Pain following cancer surgery
The researchers concluded that acupuncture may be effectively incorporated into a multimodal approach to cancer pain management, alongside medical care and pain medication where appropriate.
More recently, a 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Journal of Integrative Medicine reviewed 16 randomised controlled trials involving over 1,100 participants.
The review found acupuncture was more effective than no treatment, sham acupuncture, or usual care for reducing cancer-related pain, while also noting acupuncture’s strong safety profile and low risk of side effects.
The authors concluded that acupuncture may be an effective and safe supportive treatment option for people experiencing cancer-related pain, while acknowledging that further high-quality research continues to strengthen our understanding.
How Might Acupuncture Help?
Studies suggest acupuncture may help support pain relief by:
Stimulating the nervous system
Supporting the release of natural pain-relieving chemicals (such as endorphins)
Influencing pain signalling pathways
Helping relax muscles and reduce tension
Supporting stress reduction and nervous system regulation
For many people, treatment also provides an opportunity to rest, reset, and feel supported during an often overwhelming period.
A Gentle, Individualised Approach
At Nurcha Acupuncture, care is always tailored to the individual.
I consider:
Your diagnosis and treatment stage
Current symptoms and pain patterns
Fatigue levels and energy capacity
Medical history and oncology recommendations
Emotional wellbeing and overall quality of life
Treatments are adapted to be gentle, and supportive throughout different stages of care - including during active treatment, recovery, and survivorship.
Supporting You Through Cancer Care
Cancer treatment can feel overwhelming, and pain can affect every part of daily life. Acupuncture may offer an additional layer of support to help improve comfort, support wellbeing, and help you feel more like yourself again.
Whether you are undergoing treatment, recovering after surgery, or navigating survivorship, I am here to provide calm, compassionate care.
Book an appointment or get in touch to discuss whether acupuncture may be appropriate for your situation.
What acupuncture does NOT do
It is important to be clear:
Acupuncture does not treat or cure cancer
Acupuncture is not a substitute for medical cancer treatment
Acupuncture should not replace discussions with your oncologist about fatigue
Acupuncture is best thought of as a complementary therapy – something you do alongside your conventional cancer care.
The information on this page is based on systematic review and meta-analysis: Chiu HY, Hsieh YJ, Tsai PS. (2017). Systematic review and meta-analysis of acupuncture to reduce cancer-related pain. European Journal of Cancer Care, 26, e12457 and Faria M, Teixeira M, Pinto MJ, Sargento P. (2024). Efficacy of acupuncture on cancer pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 22(3), 235–244.