Integrative Medicine for Pain Management in Oncology
Publication Date: September 19, 2022
Last Updated: September 19, 2022
Pain Management
The following set of recommendations are for adults with cancer. There is insufficient or inconclusive evidence to make recommendations for pediatric patients with cancer.
Aromatase Inhibitor-Related Joint Pain
Recommendation 1.1
Acupuncture should be offered to patients experiencing aromatase inhibitor-related joint pain in breast cancer. (EB, B, I, M)
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Recommendation 1.2
Yoga may be offered to patients experiencing aromatase inhibitor-related joint pain in breast cancer (Quality - Low). (EB, B, , W)
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General Cancer Pain or Musculoskeletal Pain
Recommendation 1.3
Acupuncture may be offered to patients experiencing general pain or musculoskeletal pain from cancer. (EB, B, I, M)
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Recommendation 1.4
Reflexology or acupressure may be offered to patients experiencing pain during systemic therapy for cancer treatment. (EB, B, I, M)
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Recommendation 1.5
Massage may be offered to patients experiencing chronic pain following breast cancer treatment. (Quality - Low) (EB, B, , M)
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Recommendation 1.6
Hatha yoga may be offered to patients experiencing pain after treatment for breast or head and neck cancers. (Quality - Low) (EB, B, , W)
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Recommendation 1.7
Guided imagery with progressive muscle relaxation may be offered to patients experiencing general pain from cancer treatment. (Quality - Low) (EB, U, , W)
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Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
Recommendation 1.8
Acupuncture may be offered to patients experiencing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy from cancer treatment. (Type - EB/IC, Quality - Low) (EB, B, , W)
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Recommendation 1.9
Reflexology or acupressure may be offered to patients experiencing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy from cancer treatment. (Quality - Low) (EB, B, , W)
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Procedural or Surgical Pain
Recommendation 1.10
Hypnosis may be offered to patients experiencing procedural pain in cancer treatment or diagnostic workups. (EB, B, I, M)
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Recommendation 1.11
Acupuncture or acupressure may be offered to patients undergoing cancer surgery or other cancer-related procedures such as bone marrow biopsy. (Type - EB/IC, Quality - Low) (EB, B, , W)
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Recommendation 1.12
Music therapy may be offered to patients experiencing surgical pain from cancer surgery. (Quality - Low) (EB, B, , W)
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Pain During Palliative Care
Recommendation 1.13
Massage may be offered to patients experiencing pain during palliative and hospice care. (EB, B, I, M)
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Although many of the recommendations are weak and based on low quality evidence, the interventions do have clinical relevance, with a favorable benefit to harm ratio, and this is the basis for making the recommendations.
Title
Integrative Medicine for Pain Management in Oncology
Authoring Organizations
American Society of Clinical Oncology
Society for Integrative Oncology
Publication Month/Year
September 19, 2022
Last Updated Month/Year
February 1, 2024
Country of Publication
US
Target Patient Population
Adult patients with cancer
Inclusion Criteria
Male, Female, Adult, Older adult
Health Care Settings
Ambulatory, Home health, Hospice, Hospital, Outpatient
Intended Users
Nurse, nurse practitioner, physician, physician assistant
Scope
Counseling, Management
Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)
D000072716 - Cancer Pain, D010166 - Palliative Care, D065126 - Palliative Medicine, D055048 - Integrative Medicine, D026881 - Acupuncture, D008405 - Massage, D019050 - Acupressure, D009147 - Music Therapy, D006990 - Hypnosis
Keywords
integrative medicine, acupuncture, neuropathy, cancer pain, Integrative Therapies, acupressure, massage, music therapy, reflexology, guided imagery, hypnosis
Source Citation
Mao JJ, Ismaila N, Bao T, et al. Integrative Medicine for Pain Management in Oncology: SIO-ASCO Guideline. J. Clin Oncol. 2022 Sept 19. doi:10.1200/JCO.22.01357.