Desert Sands Cancer Care
Hours & Scheduling
When is the best time to schedule an appointment?
The best timing for your acupuncture treatments depends on your symptoms. For nausea, it is best to have acupuncture before and possibly during chemotherapy. For other symptoms such as pain, fatigue, diarrhea or constipation, it may be best to plan your treatments before, during or after chemotherapy. The acupuncturist can help you make decisions regarding the optimum timing of your treatments
In general, practitioners from Memorial Sloan-Kettering recommend you receive acupuncture treatments two days prior to surgery and one or two days before each cycle of chemotherapy or radiation treatment. Acupuncture may resume two days after surgery and between and shortly after chemotherapy or radiation treatments. Those undergoing hormone therapies and individuals not undergoing current cancer protocols can normally receive acupuncture at any time.
How many treatments will I need?
The specific number and frequency of treatments needed depends on your symptoms. During the initial visit, the acupuncturist will take your history and complete a physical assessment, including examination of your pulse on both wrists and a visual inspection of your tongue. The acupuncturist will then work with you to develop a treatment plan and make recommendations regarding the number and frequency of treatments that best fits your needs
Since I also teach and supervise student clinic at the Arizona School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, my schedule changes from time to time. I also do some in-home treatments, so there are often times I am not in my clinic. I ask that you schedule an appointment ahead of time.