Hi all,
a search had threads going back to 2006, so I thought I would post my experience so far to gauge current thinking . I was treated for Head and Neck cancer with 7 weeks of rads (& three doses of cisplatin), ending on 8/25/14. My RO, who received his medical degree in the military, told me he was impressed with a double blind acupuncture test he observed during his training. This test showed a significant improvement in patients who got the needles in correct acupuncture points (compared with the control group that got fake acupuncture on random points).

On his advice, I began treatment, and after two treatments, I think I see some improvement. It's not night & day, but I can be apart from gum or water for a bit longer, and less intense cottonmouth. Here's one cite of a paper (2008) on its effectiveness:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18784633

I'm glad you found some improvement. Whatever works!

Interesting. I was thinking about trying it. Keep us updated!

I tried acupuncture for saliva flow and it didn't work for me. I also tried it to help with the burning pain associated with a horribly dry mouth. Epic failure for that too. Hope you have better luck!!

Donnamae
Stage IV SSC tongue
Hemiglossectomy/radical neck
Cisplatin/4fu
a shit ton of radiation
17 year survivor
Dx at age 41

OK, we're a few weeks in, and here's my experience so far.

I was advised to come 2 X a week, but the place I chose only opens in the afternoon, and is in Salem, MA (I live across the bridge in Beverly). For those unfamiliar, Salem has in recent years fancied itself Mardi Gras for the autumn, with a month long celebration of Halloween called "Haunted Happenings". Bottom line is that the scariest thing about this event is the traffic. So I have not managed 2X per week, more once. In the week after the first session, I thought I noticed some small improvement. What I noticed is that I was home for 45 minutes, and had not poured myself a glass of water yet. I noticed the improvement because I did not need as much to remedy it. Since then, not much improvement. But after Halloween, I will be able to go more than once per week, and will make a real assessment of whether there is any there there.

By the way, I have continued with zinc, which I think is helpful for rebuilding the sense of taste. I take a zinc supplement every day, and it is almost 60 days from last rads, and I am beginning to see improvement. I said just after treatment I had about 2% of my sense of taste left, but now I'd say more like 7-10%.

I started with the umami flavors-- browned meat, roast flavors. But maple syrup tasted like water, watermelon like a cuke, etc. Now I am starting to get some sweet flavors coming in sideways, sort of. And I cooked a ciopinno (fish stew) and the broth was great. I felt like I could taste most of that, even if the tomatoes weren't registering.

Sounds like things are going well!

Thanks for update! Keep us posted! Going to try acupuncture in a week or so... maybe it will help as long as it does not hurt! Our Cancer Center has a wonderful Integrated Treatment facility, the Doc that does acupuncture was familiar with the studies you referred to, he and I are going to speak in more depth next week about it.

Thanks for the zinc tip. I will try it.

Update on my acupuncture experience.

I found a practitioner near me, and made an appointment. I first saw Katie, and noticed some slight improvement after first session. Next two- three weeks I was booked with owner Stephanie, and after about 4 or five more appointments, I saw little improvement from that first session. When I discussed this with Stephanie, I mentioned I would give it another couple of tries, but that if it did not work, I would stop then.

At this point, Stephanie recommended continuing from here with Katie, since my first session was best and most effective. Apparently they use two different approaches to acupuncture. I have since seen Katie 3X, and have noticed a definite improvement in saliva flow. I would say if I lost 80% from my radiology, I may have regained 20-30% of that, though this varies. I notice I am breathing through my mouth awhile sleeping, and when I wake feel like "The Mummy" because I have zero flow then.

The improvement I am seeing is such that I do not constantly need a water glass handy, though I have one most of the time.

FYI, Katie uses a Traditional Chinese Medicine (or TCM) approach (that one works for me)and Stephanie uses a Five Elements approach that did not.

I plan to continue for a couple more treatments and then assess where I am with it.

Sounds like there was some progress and that's always a good thing. Thanks for the update.

I found acupuncture to be very helpful in saliva, taste, and return of blood flow to the radiated areas of my neck, because of this I am less tight and my neck is supple. It sounds silly but the stiffness and sensation loss was irritating, so this did help repair the muscle. My naturopathic dr. used the chinese method of acupuncture as well. I always say the treatment is only as good as the practitioner.

best of luck