Acupuncture may alleviate abdominal or back pain of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Acupuncture participants would receive electroacupuncture on Jiaji (Ex-B2) points for 3 times in a week. Placebo acupuncture participants would receive placebo acupuncture on non-point points for the same period. Pain scores on numeric rating scale (NRS) and blood levels of β-endorphin and nerve growth factor are compared.
Age
18–75
Sex
ALL
Healthy volunteers
Not accepted
You may be eligible if
Advanced pancreatic cancer at Ⅲ-Ⅳ stage diagnosed by histological/cytological examination.
Pain score of abdominal or back pain ≥3 on a numeric rating scale (NRS) graduated from 0 to 10.
Stable dose of analgesics at least 72 hours before randomization.
Expected survival time more than 1 month.
You may not be if
Another cause for abdominal or back pain (such as prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc, ulcer or other intra-abdominal disorder).
Acupuncture treatment in the past.
Contraindications for the use of acupuncture (such as severe allergies, bleeding tendency, infectious dermatosis and ulcer or scar at points).
Unable to give informed consent.
Clareo Health | Efficacy and Mechanisms of Acupuncture for Patients With Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Pain
