OBJECTIVES:
* Determine the impact of acupuncture therapy on the frequency and intensity of hot flashes and the quality of life of patients with prostate cancer undergoing androgen deprivation.
* Determine if blood serotonin and urinary 5-HIAA are increased in patients treated with acupuncture.
* Determine if plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide and MHPG are reduced in patients with hot flashes due to androgen deprivation treated with acupuncture.
* Determine the ability of tongue diagnosis, a traditional Chinese clinical assessment method, to predict clinical and biological changes in these patients.
* Determine the effect of acupuncture on insomnia and loss of vitality caused by hot flashes in these patients.
OUTLINE: Patients undergo acupuncture for 30 minutes twice weekly for 4 weeks and then once weekly for an additional 6 weeks.
Quality of life is assessed at baseline, at weeks 2, 4, 6, and 10, and then at 6 weeks after completion of study treatment.
After completion of study treatment, patients are followed at 6 weeks.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 25 patients will be accrued for this study.
