Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#57762 01-19-2006 06:14 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 126
Vin Offline OP
Senior Member (100+ posts)
OP Offline
Senior Member (100+ posts)

Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 126
Hello,

At our last head and neck support group meeting, we heard from one of the participants that he had not been able to eat for about six months due to the radiation to head and neck.

He then decided to have acupuncture and if I recall correctly he said that after the third session he went home and was ble to eat a taco.

I would like to hear from others who may have tried acupucture and what their experience has been in improving or facilitating swallowing.

Thank you.


CG to wife;
Jan 2005 DX SCC Tongue T2N1MO; RND surgery Mar 2005; 35 XRT and 4 cisplatin completed Jul 2005.
Dec 2006 tongue surgery, Scar tissue no cancer.
Feb 2010 neck node FNA - negative.
2010 ORN right jaw plus fracture
2015 ORN left jaw plus fracture
Feb 2016 Lower jaw reconstruction by Fibula free flap+titanium plate - Permanent G-tube
June 2016 Difficulty breathing - Permanent Trachea tube
Dec 2019 DX Cervical cancer - Stage 1 - Surgery Jan 16 2020.
15-20 esophagus/larynx dilations

#57763 01-20-2006 04:32 AM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,552
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Offline
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,552
This subject has been up before and I believe that the consensus was that it was ineffective and a waste of money. One acupuncturist himself stated that it wasn't effective for dry mouth issues.

If you do a search on "acupuncture" you should be able to find the previous discsussions on it.

But who knows placebos work for a lot of people as well!


Gary Allsebrook
***********************************
Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
________________________________________________________
"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
#57764 01-20-2006 04:43 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 126
Vin Offline OP
Senior Member (100+ posts)
OP Offline
Senior Member (100+ posts)

Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 126
Gary,

Thank you for the reply. I appreciate the past feedback. I was kind of incredulous when the person at our head and neck cancer support group shared their experience with swallowing and acupuncture. Perhaps this indeed is a placebo effect.

We saw our dentist yesterday and he was not keen on acupuncture either.

Again, thank you.


CG to wife;
Jan 2005 DX SCC Tongue T2N1MO; RND surgery Mar 2005; 35 XRT and 4 cisplatin completed Jul 2005.
Dec 2006 tongue surgery, Scar tissue no cancer.
Feb 2010 neck node FNA - negative.
2010 ORN right jaw plus fracture
2015 ORN left jaw plus fracture
Feb 2016 Lower jaw reconstruction by Fibula free flap+titanium plate - Permanent G-tube
June 2016 Difficulty breathing - Permanent Trachea tube
Dec 2019 DX Cervical cancer - Stage 1 - Surgery Jan 16 2020.
15-20 esophagus/larynx dilations

#57765 01-21-2006 03:34 AM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,019
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Offline
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,019
I just want to point out that the placebo effect is about something really changing for the better--just not for the reasons we may think it is changing. The power positive expectations can have on our actual physical being is pretty amazing and we can see that by the fact that placebo effects are so ubiquitous.

I guess what I'm saying is ultimately it doesn't matter what caused this guy to go home and be able to eat a taco-he had an amazing change for the better! It's not proof that acupuncture caused it, but hey. whatever. do you think he really cares?

Hey Vin, if you do that search could you come back ehre and say what you found? I am too busy to read a lot her in the next few days, but I've been thinking of trying acupuncture too so I guess I'm asking is if you'll do my homework for me since you're doing it for you anyway .... wink

Nelie


SCC(T2N0M0) part.glossectomy & neck dissect 2/9/05 & 2/25/05.33 IMRT(66 Gy),2 Cisplatin ended 06/03/05.Stage I breast cancer treated 2/05-11/05.Surgery to remove esophageal stricture 07/06, still having dilatations to keep esophagus open.Dysphagia. "When you're going through hell, keep going"
#57766 01-21-2006 05:54 AM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 417
"Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Offline
"Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)

Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 417
Once a saliva gland is killed, it's dead, I have had funeral services for my saliva glands. If my saliva were to come back it would be from the higher power from above.
Darrell


Stage 3, T3,N1,M0,SCC, Base of Tongue. No Surgery, Radiationx39, Chemo, Taxol & Carboplatin Weekly 8 Treatments 2004. Age 60. Recurrence 2/06, SCC, Chest & Neck (Sub clavean), Remission 8/06. Recurrence SCC 12/10/06 Chest.
#57767 03-09-2006 08:00 PM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 458
Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Offline
Platinum Member (300+ posts)

Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 458
Hi Folks, it's been a while I kmow but finally checked in for a bit.

A few months ago back I read in some blog someplace about this particular patient having gone to one of the medical centers in Guangzhou here in China for Gamma Knife therapy. She discussed with the doctor there about adjunctive therapy such as acupuncture. His response was absolutely not, that it was possible the acupuncture treatment would possibly stimulate any reamaining cancer cells and make them more active.

Not sure of how much truth to that there is, but somehow it makes sense.

Someplace in China
Bob


SCC Tongue, stage IV diagnosed Sept, 2002, 1st radical neck dissection left side in Sept, followed by RAD/Chemo. Discovered spread to right side nodes March 2003, second radical neck dissection April, followed by more RAD/Chemo.
#57768 03-10-2006 06:50 PM
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,912
Likes: 52
OCF Founder
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Offline
OCF Founder
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,912
Likes: 52
Nice to see you back Bob, I've missed your postings.


Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
#57769 03-11-2006 02:21 AM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 624
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Offline
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)

Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 624
Acupuncture to improve salivary function is done at Johns Hopkins's Kimmel Cancer Center's acupuncture clinic (they also perform acupuncture for pain and nausea associated with cancer treatment) It has proved especially useful for cases where the usual pain and nausea medications do not work well. It does not "stimulate the cancer" -- a lot of study went into this before the acupuncture ceter was approved. The use of acupuncture for xerostomia was initiated (at least in this area) at the University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore -- I have a link to this somewhere and will post more when I find it. There is also some evidence that acupuncture can improve immune response but this is very early.

Acupuncture does work -- that is, it is not just a placebo effect -- possibly by stimulating (in the brain) production of endorphins which also affect near-by brain regions. Which may be why needles applied to say, the hand, can reduce pain in the neck.

We use acupuncture on our dogs if they have an injury which leaves them with lingering pain or soreness and it definitely works -- not sure if dogs understand the "placebo effect" <gr>

Gail


CG to husband Barry, dx. 7/21/05, age 66, SCC rgt. tonsil, BOT, 2 nodes (stg. IV), HPV+, tonsillectomy, 7x carboplatin, 35x tomoTherapy IMRT w/ Ethyol @ Johns Hopkins, thru treatment 9/28/05, HPV vaccine trial 12/06-present. Looking good!
#57770 03-11-2006 02:27 AM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 624
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Offline
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)

Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 624
Hi --

Back again -- I found one of the links to acupuncture for dry mouth --

http://www.dentalplans.com/Dental-Health-Articles/Acupuncture-treats-dry-mouth.asp

The doctor referred to is at the University of Maryland Dental School (part of the medical college in Baltimore).

Gail


CG to husband Barry, dx. 7/21/05, age 66, SCC rgt. tonsil, BOT, 2 nodes (stg. IV), HPV+, tonsillectomy, 7x carboplatin, 35x tomoTherapy IMRT w/ Ethyol @ Johns Hopkins, thru treatment 9/28/05, HPV vaccine trial 12/06-present. Looking good!

Moderated by  Eva Grayzel 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Top Posters
ChristineB 10,507
davidcpa 8,311
Cheryld 5,260
EzJim 5,260
Brian Hill 4,912
Newest Members
Jina, VintageMel, rahul320, Sean916, Megm37
13,103 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums23
Topics18,166
Posts196,921
Members13,103
Most Online458
Jan 16th, 2020
OCF Awards

Great Nonprofit OCF 2023 Charity Navigator OCF Guidestar Charity OCF

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5