Abstract

Electroacupuncture Relieves Symptoms this effect occurs and how long it lasts. Data were analyzed from 59,308 postmenopausal women who were followed be- Associated with Aromatase Inhibitors tween 1993 and 2005. The women were an average of 8.5 Patients who have breast-cancer–related pain have comorbid years postmenopause, and 2155 incident invasive breast can- symptoms, such as fatigue, sleep disturbance, depression, and cers occurred during the study period. anxiety, according to a group of researchers who investigated The researchers used biennial questionaires to gather data for the use of electroacupuncture for addressing these symptoms. analysis to determine if levels of recreational physical activi- The focus of the study was to determine how EA affected fa- ty—self-reported in 1993, 1997, and 2002—affected risk for tigue, sleep, and psychologic distress in patients who survived invasive breast cancer in the women. Women who reported breast cancer but had joint pain associated with use of aro- recreational physical activities ≥ 12 metabolic equivalent task matase inhibitors (AIs). hours (MET-h) per week had a lower risk of developing the This randomized controlled trial included three groups of cancer than women who engaged in fewer MET-h of activity postmenopausal breast-cancer survivors (N = 67). One group per