Feasibility of Auricular Acupressure for Appetite and Weight in Patients With Stage II-IV Gastric, Esophageal, and Pancreatic Cancer

Inclusion Criteria

• •18-65 years of age
• •Stage II-IV gastric, esophageal, or pancreatic cancer
• •Appetite score on visual analog scale ≤ 70/100
• •At least 60 days of planned systemic treatment, whether already initiated or scheduled to be initiated
• •Access to phone and electronic device for study contacts and questionnaires
• •Willing and able to attend 4 in-person auricular acupressure treatments at the Fred Hutch South Lake Union Clinic
• •Willing and able to perform 4 at-home self-applied treatments of auricular acupressure
• •Participants must not have received acupressure or acupuncture for low appetite within last 30 days
• •Participants must not be actively using corticosteroids, mirtazapine (Remeron), olanzapine (Zyprexa), or Marinol for appetite stimulation at baseline
• •Participants must be able to intake food orally and not require sole or supplemental intravenous nutrition at baseline
• •Participants must not have a history of physiological eating disorders (e.g., anorexia nervosa) in the last 3 years
• •Participants must not have a current known or diagnosed immunodeficiency
• •Participants must have an intact auricular pinna
• •Able to understand and willing to sign written informed consent in English