Cancer supportive care — Wokingham, Berkshire

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine for cancer supportive care at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire. Acupuncture is now widely integrated into NHS and private oncology pathways as supportive care during and after chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy and surgery. It is used to reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, cancer-related fatigue, hot flushes from hormone therapy, peripheral neuropathy, lymphoedema, pain and emotional distress. I work alongside your oncology team to support — never replace — conventional cancer treatment. Over 25 years of clinical experience.

On this page

1. Acupuncture in modern oncology
2. Treatment side effects addressed
3. Cancer in traditional Chinese medicine
4. Acupuncture for cancer supportive care
5. Chinese herbal medicine
6. Safety & integration with oncology
7. Self-care during treatment
8. Commonly asked questions
9. References

1. Acupuncture in modern oncology

Acupuncture is the most widely researched complementary therapy in oncology and is now embedded in NICE guidance for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, integrated into many NHS chemotherapy day units, and offered at major UK cancer centres including the Royal Marsden, Christie and University College Hospital London. It is supportive care — it does not treat the cancer itself, and is used alongside (never instead of) the conventional cancer treatment your oncology team has recommended.

I provide supportive acupuncture during and after cancer treatment for patients across Berkshire and the Thames Valley. I co-ordinate with your oncology team where appropriate and observe the standard precautions (no needling near tumour sites or affected lymph node areas, careful management around bleeding risk, deferral around neutropenic periods, etc.).

2. Treatment side effects addressed

Acupuncture is most strongly evidenced for:

1. Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting — PC 6 (Neiguan) is now in MASCC/ESMO guidelines as adjunctive therapy
2. Cancer-related fatigue — significant evidence base from multiple RCTs
3. Hot flushes from aromatase inhibitors or tamoxifen — particularly useful for breast cancer patients on long-term endocrine therapy
4. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) — numbness, tingling, pain in hands and feet
5. Aromatase inhibitor-induced joint pain (AIA) — strong evidence in breast cancer
6. Xerostomia (dry mouth) after radiotherapy for head & neck cancers
7. Post-mastectomy / post-surgical pain
8. Lymphoedema management — adjunctive to manual lymphatic drainage
9. Anxiety, depression and insomnia through treatment and recovery
10. Constipation and bowel disturbance from opioid analgesia or chemotherapy

3. Cancer in traditional Chinese medicine

Classical TCM understood cancer as the end-stage of long-standing patterns combining Qi stagnation, Blood stasis, Phlegm accumulation and Heat-Toxin, on a background of deep Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) deficiency. Modern integrative TCM does not claim to treat the cancer itself but uses these pattern frameworks to support the patient through the demanding conventional treatment journey.

Common supportive treatment principles during oncology care:

1. Tonify Qi and Blood — counter the marrow-suppressive effects of chemotherapy
2. Strengthen Spleen and Stomach — manage nausea, appetite loss and digestive disturbance
3. Nourish Yin — counter the drying, depleting effect of repeated chemotherapy and radiotherapy
4. Calm Shen — address anxiety, insomnia and emotional distress
5. Move Qi and Blood gently — relieve pain and stagnation without over-stimulation

4. Acupuncture for cancer supportive care

Treatment is tailored to each patient’s diagnosis, conventional treatment schedule and presenting symptoms. Sessions are gentle — cancer patients are typically more sensitive to needling, and treatments are kept short, with fewer needles and lighter stimulation than in healthier patients. Common points include PC 6 and ST 36 for nausea and fatigue; LU 7, KD 6 and SP 6 for hot flushes; ear acupuncture and Yintang for anxiety and sleep; and gentle distal limb points for chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy.

5. Chinese herbal medicine

Chinese herbal medicine during active cancer treatment requires careful judgement. Some herbs are contraindicated with specific chemotherapy agents (potential CYP450 or P-glycoprotein interactions), and the safest approach is to use a limited number of well-characterised, evidence-supported herbs in low doses, with full disclosure to the oncology team.

For most patients I prefer to defer non-essential herbal therapy until after the active treatment phase, focusing during chemotherapy on acupuncture for symptom control. For post-treatment recovery (Qi-Blood deficiency, fatigue, recovery of marrow and digestive function), well-established tonifying formulas such as Si Jun Zi Tang, Ba Zhen Tang or Shi Quan Da Bu Tang may be appropriate. All herbal prescribing decisions are individualised and disclosed to the patient’s oncology team.

6. Safety and integration with oncology

Standard oncology-acupuncture precautions I observe:

1. No needling near tumour sites or sites of suspected metastatic disease
2. No needling in the affected limb after lymph node dissection (risk of lymphoedema or worsening of existing lymphoedema)
3. Deferral during neutropenic periods (typically days 7–14 of standard chemotherapy cycles) — infection risk
4. Gentle needling for thrombocytopenia — reduced bleeding risk
5. No acupuncture immediately post-surgery at the surgical site until healed
6. All needles sterile, single-use and disposed of immediately
7. Communication with your oncology team where appropriate

7. Self-care during cancer treatment

Gentle daily movement

Light walking, gentle stretching, tai chi or restorative yoga improves fatigue, mood and physical function during and after treatment. Even 10–15 minutes daily makes a measurable difference. Avoid pushing through exhaustion.

Nutrition

Warm, easily digestible food during chemotherapy weeks (soups, congee, stews, well-cooked vegetables) supports the Spleen and Stomach — cold and raw foods are harder to process when Qi is depleted. See Chinese food therapy.

Sleep and rest

Cancer-related fatigue is qualitatively different from ordinary tiredness and is not fully relieved by rest. Pacing — planned rest breaks before exhaustion sets in — preserves capacity better than pushing through and crashing.

Emotional support

The psychological impact of cancer treatment is as significant as the physical. Macmillan Cancer Support, Maggie’s Centres and many hospital trusts provide free counselling. Acupuncture for anxiety and sleep complements rather than replaces talking therapy.

8. Commonly asked questions about acupuncture for cancer supportive care

Is acupuncture safe during chemotherapy?

Yes, with standard precautions. Acupuncture is widely used in oncology day units and major cancer centres. It is deferred during neutropenic periods, avoided near tumour sites or post-lymph-node-dissection limbs, and given gently for patients on blood thinners or with low platelets.

Can acupuncture treat the cancer itself?

No. Acupuncture is supportive care. It treats side effects, supports recovery and improves quality of life during cancer treatment. The cancer itself is treated by your oncology team with surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy or immunotherapy as appropriate.

When in my chemotherapy cycle should I have acupuncture?

Most patients find the days immediately after infusion (when nausea peaks) and the late-cycle nadir week (when fatigue is worst) the most useful times for treatment. Weekly or twice-weekly sessions are typical during active chemotherapy.

Will my oncology team approve?

Acupuncture is well accepted in modern oncology. Many oncology centres now refer patients directly. I write to your oncology team where appropriate to confirm coordination, and observe all standard precautions.

How much does treatment cost?

Full pricing is on the treatment prices page. An initial acupuncture consultation is £70 at Wokingham; follow-up sessions are £60. Some private health insurers cover acupuncture supportive care during cancer treatment — please check with your provider.

What about acupuncture for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN)?

CIPN is one of the most commonly referred cancer-related symptoms in my clinic. The taxanes (paclitaxel, docetaxel), platinum compounds (oxaliplatin, cisplatin) and vinca alkaloids (vincristine) all cause peripheral nerve damage that can persist for months or years after chemotherapy. There is now an integrative oncology guideline recommending acupuncture for CIPN as a Grade B recommendation. The approach combines distal channel points (LV 3, SP 6, KD 3) with Ashi points along the affected fingers and toes, and is typically given weekly for 8–12 weeks. Many patients experience meaningful reduction in tingling, numbness and pain. The earlier treatment is started after CIPN appears, the more responsive it tends to be.

Can acupuncture help cancer-related fatigue?

Yes. A 2013 randomised controlled trial of 302 breast cancer patients reported significant reductions in fatigue scores with acupuncture compared with usual care. The Society for Integrative Oncology and ASCO joint guideline (2022) recommends acupuncture for fatigue during and after cancer treatment. The TCM pattern is typically Qi and Blood deficiency layered with Spleen Qi deficiency, treated with tonifying points (ST 36, SP 6, REN 6, REN 4) and supported with formulas such as Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang when herbs are appropriate alongside oncology treatment.

What about hot flushes from breast cancer hormone therapy (tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors)?

Hot flushes from endocrine therapy are dose-limiting for many patients. Acupuncture is now well-evidenced for these specifically — multiple RCTs and a 2019 meta-analysis support a clinically meaningful reduction in hot flush frequency and severity. The pattern is typically Yin deficiency with empty heat rising, treated with KD 3, KD 6, SP 6, HT 6 and the Yin-restoring formula Liu Wei Di Huang Wan. Treatment usually continues throughout the endocrine therapy course (5–10 years) with monthly maintenance after the initial weekly course.

Can I take Chinese herbs during chemotherapy?

This requires very careful judgement and explicit coordination with your oncology team. Some herbs are appropriate during chemotherapy (those supporting fatigue, immune function, gut recovery between cycles). Some are contraindicated (those with antioxidant action may theoretically blunt the oxidative effect of chemotherapy on cancer cells, although the evidence is mixed). I follow the integrative oncology principle: avoid antioxidant-heavy formulas during chemotherapy infusion windows, focus on Qi tonification and gut/liver support, and ensure all herbs are disclosed to the oncology team. The PHY906 (modified Huang Qin Tang) approach pioneered by Yale Cancer Center provides an excellent template for how a classical Chinese formula can be safely integrated into modern oncology.

What about after cancer treatment completes — can acupuncture help with the "now what" phase?

Yes — this is one of the most underserved areas of cancer care. The end of active treatment is psychologically and physically destabilising for many patients. The TCM pattern is often Qi, Blood and Yin deficiency from the prolonged treatment burden, often combined with stuck Liver Qi from the anxiety of cancellation of close monitoring. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine support energy recovery, sleep restoration, immune resilience and emotional integration. Many patients have weekly sessions for 8–12 weeks after their last chemotherapy or radiotherapy, then transition to monthly maintenance for a year or two.

9. Treatment at my Wokingham clinic

I provide cancer supportive care at my clinic at 49 Denmark Street, Wokingham, RG40 2AY. Patients travel from across Berkshire — Reading, Bracknell, Twyford, Crowthorne, Sandhurst and the wider Thames Valley — many referred or self-referred during their treatment at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Frimley Park, the Royal Marsden, Wexham Park or other regional oncology centres. The clinic is a short walk from Wokingham town centre with on-street parking nearby.

The initial consultation lasts 90 minutes. I review your diagnosis, treatment plan (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy), current oncology team contacts, side-effect priorities and medication list. I follow the integrative oncology safety principles — treatment is deferred during neutropenic periods, avoided near tumour or recent surgical sites, given with extra care on the side of axillary lymph-node dissection, and given gently to patients on blood thinners or with thrombocytopenia. With your consent I write a brief note to your oncology team confirming treatment is being given and disclosing any Chinese herbal prescription.

Follow-up sessions are 60 minutes. During active chemotherapy, weekly or twice-weekly sessions timed around infusion days produce the best symptom control. During hormone therapy for breast or prostate cancer, weekly sessions for 8–12 weeks followed by monthly maintenance is the typical pattern. Online Chinese herbal medicine consultations are available throughout the UK for patients who cannot travel for the in-person acupuncture sessions; herbal prescriptions are disclosed to the oncology team and adjusted to avoid any documented interactions.

10. References

Mao JJ, et al. Integrative oncology: Society for Integrative Oncology – ASCO guideline. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2022;40(34):3998–4024.

Garcia MK, et al. Systematic review of acupuncture in cancer care: a synthesis of the evidence. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2013;31(7):952–960. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2012.43.5818.

Lu W, Rosenthal DS. Acupuncture for cancer pain and related symptoms. Current Pain and Headache Reports. 2013;17(3):321.

All herbal prescribing is individualised and disclosed to your oncology team. Online consultations are available.