Chemotherapy-induced Emesis: Experienced Burden in Life, and Significance of Treatment Expectations and Communication in Chemotherapy Care.

Objective: Because antiemetics have become more effective and integrative therapies such as acupuncture are used in combination with antiemetics, people receiving chemotherapy for cancer today might expect less emesis than in the past. It is not previously described if and how people receiving modern antiemetics during chemotherapy experience emesis. The objective of this study was to describe experiences regarding emesis among persons undergoing emetogenic chemotherapy, and how it affects their quality of life, daily life and work.

Acupuncture in Patients Undergoing Cancer Therapy: Their Interest and Belief in Acupuncture is High, But Few are Using It.

Objectives: Since pre-existing expectations, that is, beliefs, in a treatment may modify outcomes, and acupuncture studies often fail to measure expectations, we wanted to investigate the use of acupuncture, interest, and belief in acupuncture effects among patients undergoing cancer therapy.

Method: A cross-sectional design, where the participants answered a study-specific questionnaire with questions regarding their use of, interest and belief in acupuncture treatment.

Results: A total of 457 patients with cancer (48% men, mean age 65 years) answered the questionnaire.

Emesis in patients receiving acupuncture, sham acupuncture or standard care during chemo-radiation: A randomized controlled study.

Objective: To study nausea, vomiting and need for rescue antiemetics in patients receiving antiemetic acupuncture, sham acupuncture or standard care during concomitant chemotherapy during pelvic radiotherapy.

Methods: In total, 68 patients participated (75% women, mean age 56 years, 53% had gynecological, 43% colorectal, and 4% other cancer types). Fifty-seven of them were blinded randomized to verum (n=28) or sham (n=29) acupuncture, median 10 sessions.