#51794 11-18-2006 04:57 AM | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 95 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP  Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 95 | I was just wondering about what experiences people had with acupuncture after radiation to help with the salivary glands? I have read a few on line studies that have indicated it can help. Finding a legitimate acupuncturist where we live would be a major challenge, but I think my husband might be willing to try it. They used acupuncture in the community mental health clinic where I used to work in NY. It helped people quite a bit with substance abuse problems and with stress. I was a guinea pig several times for other staff when they were being trained and it really was very relaxing at times. I think there is a lot of difference in how people do with it and how people respond to it. I just was curious about what others thought?
Barbara S
C/G to Michael age 64, stage 1 base of tongue SC cancer and a stage one for a couple lymph nodes, diagnosed 09/12/06, IMRT radiation 10/24/06 to 12/05/06 , last PET / CT scan 11/7/11 - still cancer free!!!
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#51795 11-18-2006 05:08 AM | Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 251 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 251 | Barbara, my husband had some treatments of accupuncture to try to improve salivary function after treatment. He felt that it did him some good - nothing dramatic, but a slight improvement.
Anita
Husband Dx 12/02 Stage 4 Tonsil Cancer T1N2bM0; surgery, radiation, chemo 1/03 - 4/03.
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#51796 11-18-2006 07:05 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 | Barbara,
I think if you search this site for people who have tried acupuncture after radiation, you'll see that there seem to be very mixed results at best. There are probably a few who feel it helped a bit, while others have said it was a total waste of time and money in terms of salivary function.
Cathy
Tongue SCC (T2M0N0), poorly differentiated, diagnosed 3/89, partial glossectomy and neck dissection 4/89, radiation from early June to late August 1989
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#51797 11-18-2006 09:33 AM | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 | Hi Barbara, I had accupuncture to help my salivary function for probably 7-8 weeks. At first, I think I wanted it to help so bad that I believed it did OR maybe it really did a little bit. Anyway, after a few more weeks of it, I decided it was too expensive and not enough benefit to continue. I wish your husband better luck with it if he decides to try it, it is always worth a try! Carol
Diagnosed May 2002 with Stage IV tongue cancer, two lymph nodes positive. Surgery to remove 1/2 tongue, neck dissection, 35 radiation treatments. 11/2007, diagnosed with cancer of soft palate, surgery 12/14/07, jaw split. 3/24/10, cancer on tongue behind flap, need petscan, surgery scheduled 4/16/10
---update passed away 8-27-11---
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#51798 11-19-2006 04:12 PM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Hi Barbara, I can't speak from personal experience, however I attended a meeting where there was a speaker about this subject. There were patients of his in the audience that backed up his claims of success. Check out his website http://www.n5ev.com/art_pilocarpine.htm Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
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