2026 Oncology Guidelines — Acupuncture in Cancer Care
In 2026, acupuncture is a "Standard of Care" recommendation in the joint clinical guidelines from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO).
Aromatase Inhibitor-Associated Pain: Doctors are now directed to recommend acupuncture as a first-line non-pharmacological treatment for joint pain in breast cancer survivors.
Symptom Management: It is widely utilized to manage chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, nausea, and cancer-related fatigue.
Palliative Care: New meta-analyses in 2026 have confirmed that acupuncture serves as a vital adjunct in palliative settings, significantly reducing the required dosage of opioids and improving the quality of life for patients with advanced-stage malignancies.