"Acupuncture can help alleviate the oftendebilitating hot flashes that afflict many breast cancer patients new Italian research says. Noting that hot flashes are a fact of life for many women with breast cancer the investigators found that pairing lifestyle advice with weekly acupuncture sessions dramatically improved the womens quality of life. Acupuncture together with enhanced selfcare for three months is effective in reducing hot flashes in women with breast cancer said study author Giorgia Razzini a clinical trial project manager in the oncology unit of Ospedale di Carpi Carpi Hospital in Bologna Italy. And because hormone treatment for breast cancer typically makes the hot flash experience even worse Razzini added acupuncture could be a useful tool for helping such patients stay on their therapy and improve their quality of life. Razzini and colleagues published their findings online March  in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. In the study the Italian team focused on  breast cancer patients who had reported moderate or worse hot flashes while undergoing treatment at five cancer hospitals and one primary health care center in northern Italy between  and .  The patients whose average age was  were randomly split into two groups. One group of  patients was offered a threemonth regimen of selfcare advice on diet exercise and psychological support. The second group of  was offered the same advice in the same time frame along with  halfhour weekly sessions of traditional acupuncture. All of the participants kept hot flash diaries. At the end of the threemonth period and for up to six months thereafter daily hot flash experiences were assessed for changing severity and frequency. The result by the end of the treatment period those in the acupuncture group were found to have hot flash scores that were  percent lower than those in the nonacupuncture group. The finding continued to hold up for a halfyear after the acupuncture sessions ended. Those in the acupuncture group also seemed to have a generally higher overall quality of life in terms of both physical and mental health with no serious side effects the study authors said.  So why does acupuncture seem to work Razzini cited several reasons including acupunctures ability to prompt blood vessel dilation in the patients nervous system while stimulating the release of endorphins  a neurotransmitter that interacts with brain cells involved in the regulation of pain and emotion. It also triggers the release of the stress hormone norepinephrine as well as the mood regulator serotonin. Razzini didnt know how much American patients might have to pay for such treatment but added Compared to other effective treatments such as antidepressants acupuncture should be less expensive and for sure more safe and feasible. Dr. Courtney Vito a breast oncologic surgeon at the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Duarte Calif. was pleased that a serious issue in breast cancer treatment is getting a closer look. Anyone who treats breast cancer struggles with this problem in their practice because the hot flashes that some women experience with antihormonal treatment can be profound she said. Almost all women experience them. For some its a moderate situation but for others its a really significant problem. Some women  I would say probably about  percent  have such severe hot flashes that they even refuse to take medications that can cut their risk for cancer or cancer recurrence by  percent simply because they cant handle the hot flashes Vito explained. And Ive actually had patients who have had acupuncture with good success so Im not surprised by the finding she added. But it is heartening that we now have scientific proof that this can work. Which in the end may help to encourage insurance companies to their expand coverage so this can become an affordable option for all patients in need. More information Theres more on cancer and hot flashes at the U.S. National Cancer Institute http SOURCES Courtney Vito M.D. breast oncologic surgeon and assistant clinical professor City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center Duarte Calif. Giorgia Razzini Ph.D. clinical trial project manager oncology unit Ospedale di Carpi Bologna Italy March  Journal of Clinical Oncology"