Acupuncture, massage, and other non-drug treatments for cancer pain

(Susan K. Treiman/ Everyday Health) — Two of the world’s leading cancer organizations have released new guidelines recommending the best uses of acupuncture, hypnosis, therapeutic massage, and other nondrug remedies for cancer-related pain.

The move is likely to expand health insurance coverage for these popular therapies and make them more available to patients.

“Up to 60 percent of cancer patients and survivors try at least one type of integrative medical approach for cancer care, whether they tell their doctors or not,” says Heather Greenlee, ND, PhD, MPH, an associate professor at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, and co-chair of the SIO Clinical Practice Guideline Committee. “Having this report now presents clear guidelines for them.” (…)