Acupuncture is increasingly being studied and used as a supportive approach for managing selected symptoms associated with cancer and cancer treatment. A review published in JCO Oncology Practice in July 2026 examined the scientific evidence, safety considerations, and practical requirements for integrating acupuncture into modern oncology care.
Cancer care extends beyond treating the tumour
Advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment have substantially improved outcomes for many groups of patients. Yet throughout treatment and recovery, patients may continue to experience symptoms that affect their quality of life, including pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and treatment-related adverse effects. Some of these symptoms may persist despite appropriate standard medical care. As a result, supportive care has become an increasingly important part of oncology, with the aim of helping patients manage symptoms, maintain function, and improve quality of life alongside cancer-directed treatment. Within this context, acupuncture is being investigated as a non-pharmacological supportive therapy that may complement existing approaches to symptom management.
What does the 2026 review tell us?
On 6 July 2026, Weidong Lu, Eunbin Kwag, Irene Martyniuk, and Ting Bao published the review Acupuncture in Cancer Care: Evidence, Safety, and Implementation in Oncology Practice in JCO Oncology Practice. The authors are affiliated with major US cancer and medical centres, including Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, City of Hope, and Massachusetts General Hospital. The review focuses on three main areas:
Evidence: For which cancer- and treatment-related symptoms has acupuncture been studied, and which applications are addressed in professional oncology guidelines?
Safety: Which risk factors should be assessed before acupuncture is provided to a person with cancer?
Implementation: How can cancer centres incorporate acupuncture services while ensuring appropriate interdisciplinary coordination, outcome monitoring, and sustainable use of resources?
According to the authors, current evidence suggests that acupuncture may provide benefit for selected cancer-related symptoms, and some applications have been incorporated into professional oncology guidelines. This does not mean, however, that acupuncture is recommended for every symptom or every patient. Its use should be guided by the evidence for the specific indication, the individual patient’s clinical condition, and assessment by the treating healthcare team.
Safety is essential
One of the key messages of the review is that acupuncture for people with cancer requires an appropriate framework for safety. Before treatment, clinicians should consider factors including the current phase of cancer treatment, relevant laboratory and imaging findings, the presence of implanted medical devices, planned surgical procedures, and the extent of metastatic disease. These considerations may influence whether acupuncture is appropriate, when it should be performed, and which treatment approach should be used. The authors emphasise that acupuncture can be delivered safely when provided by practitioners appropriately trained in the care of oncology patients and when there is effective coordination with the multidisciplinary treatment team.
From a stand-alone therapy to multidisciplinary care
A particularly valuable aspect of the review is its focus on integrating acupuncture into the broader oncology care system rather than treating it as an isolated intervention. Establishing an acupuncture service requires more than practitioners with technical expertise. Cancer centres also need appropriate referral pathways, eligibility criteria, symptom and outcome monitoring, adequate staffing, and a sustainable service model. In the United States, differences in insurance coverage and reimbursement policies remain an important barrier to access. This illustrates that the gap between scientific evidence and routine clinical practice depends not only on the effectiveness of an intervention, but also on how healthcare systems are organised and financed.
Acupuncture does not replace cancer treatment
It is essential to distinguish between treating cancer itself and providing supportive care for people with cancer. Acupuncture is not a substitute for surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy, or other indicated cancer treatments. The role discussed in this review is supportive: acupuncture may be considered for the management of selected symptoms, with the aim of improving patients’ experience and quality of life. People who are currently undergoing cancer treatment, or who have previously been treated for cancer, should discuss acupuncture with their treating physician before starting treatment, particularly when relevant risk factors are present or during periods of active cancer therapy.
An important direction in integrative medicine
The 2026 review reflects a pragmatic approach to the role of acupuncture in contemporary medicine. Rather than positioning acupuncture in opposition to standard medical treatment, the authors consider it within a coordinated model of care in which every intervention should have a clear purpose, an appropriate evidence base, and defined safety standards. This also reflects a fundamental principle of integrative medicine: the goal is not to use as many therapies as possible, but to select the right intervention for the right patient at the right time. For physicians and acupuncture practitioners, the development of this field also brings responsibilities: to remain up to date with scientific evidence, understand the limits of professional competence, and maintain effective communication and collaboration with relevant medical specialties.
At VietKimHong Clinic, individual patient assessment, respect for scientific evidence, and recognition of both the potential and the limitations of acupuncture are fundamental principles of our approach to integrative medicine.
Reference:
Lu W, Kwag E, Martyniuk I, Bao T. Acupuncture in Cancer Care: Evidence, Safety, and Implementation in Oncology Practice. JCO Oncology Practice. Published online 6 July 2026.
DOI: 10.1200/OP-26-00334