Improving Quality of Life in a Patient with Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer

Abstract

Abstract

Background:

The pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer is less understood than other cancers, with current statistics showing the 5-year survival rate for metastatic pancreatic cancer at 1% of all patients. Acupuncture may be able to increase quality of life (QoL) for patients while they undergo standard care, by virtue of acupuncture's capacity to treat the mind, body, and spirit. Two classical, yet lesser-known, techniques that encompass this approach are “pricking” and the Eight Extraordinary Meridians (EEM).

Case:

A 48-year-old male was, prior to his stage IV diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, in good health, with no history of precancerous cells or family history of cancer. The patient sought medical care because of his overwhelming fatigue, severe night sweats, sudden weight loss (11 lbs), and pain in his right upper quadrant (RUQ). To determine the efficacy of planned acupuncture treatments, laboratory values, pain-medication dosage, perspective of the patient's spouse as caregiver, and subjective feedback from the patient were considered. The patient was then treated with both techniques.

Results:

Prior to acupuncture, the patient complained of severe RUQ pain, averaging a 9 out of 10 on the Numerical Rating Scale for pain. The patient's post-treatment pain level decreased to a 2 out of 10. He reported improvement in his QoL as evidenced by a decrease in side-effects from chemotherapy, better sleep, improved appetite, increased energy, and a more-positive mental outlook.

Conclusions:

The techniques described require further examination but appear to have improved the patient's QoL substantially during his late-stage pancreatic cancer; this result is consistent with the private practice experience of the current authors.