Acupuncture for Breakthrough pain in cancer: A case report

ABSTRACT Patients with chronic cancer pain frequently suffer from severe pain intensity exacerbations. A 60-years old woman had been experiencing Breakthrough Pain Cancer (BTCP) mostly concentrated on shoulders since the resection of the upper right lung lobe one year before, reason why she underwent Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment (TCM). She was diagnosed with BTCP. Despite strong opioids intake during radiotherapy and chemotherapy, she continued to suffer from pain without benefiting from these medications. She was treated with somatic and auricular acupuncture and cupping technique for 10 sessions, 2-3 sessions per week, 30 minutes per session. After five/six sessions of treatment the patient felt much better, relieved from the pain with an improving Numeric rating Scale (NRS) and an important improving of Breakthrough pain Assessment Tool-BAT and Constant-Murley Score. In cancer patients, acupuncture could represent an effective treatment option.