Santhy Shetty

Narie Holistic
United Kingdom

Abstract Title:

Medical acupuncture for men with prostate cancer: Symptom relief for ADT-related hot flushes, sleep, mood, fatigue, quality of life, and mental wellbeing.

Biography:

Santhy Shetty is a UK?based registered pharmacist with over 14 years’ experience. Holding an MPharm from Aston University, she is an Independent Prescribing Pharmacist, Royal College of Pharmacy member, and Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine. Trained at Oxford and Birmingham universities, she has worked with major providers including Boots, Well, Spire Health and Nuffield Health. Currently practising in private hospitals , she specialises in perioperative medicines optimisation across many surgical fields. Also a qualified Specialist holistic medicine consultant and Fellow of The Complementary Medical Association, she integrates conventional care with evidence?informed natural approaches, focusing on preventative health, nutrition and wellbeing.

Research Interests:

Background: Medical acupuncture does not treat or cure prostate cancer and should not be presented as an oncological therapy (Lee et al., 2009). Within integrative oncology, however, it is increasingly used to address the physical, emotional and functional burden associated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), radiotherapy and systemic treatments (Garcia et al., 2013). Men commonly report vasomotor symptoms, fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, sleep disturbance, mood changes and reduced quality of life, which are often only partially relieved by conventional pharmacological approaches (Pockaj et al., 2012). Aims: This work aims to: • Clarify the role and limits of medical acupuncture in prostate cancer care (Garcia et al., 2013). • Summarise current evidence and clinical experience for managing treatment-related symptoms and survivorship issues (Beer et al., 2005; Ashmole et al., 2015; Mitchell and Deng, 2024). • Illustrate how acupuncture can be safely integrated into multidisciplinary care while maintaining clear communication about its non-curative status (Garcia et al., 2013). Methods: A narrative synthesis was undertaken drawing on clinical outcome studies, small trials and service evaluations of body and auricular acupuncture in men with a history of prostate cancer (Beer et al., 2005; Ashmole et al., 2015; Lee et al., 2009). Particular attention was paid to ADT-related hot flushes, sleep, mood, fatigue and interference with daily activities, as well as feasibility, acceptability and safety in routine cancer services (Beer et al., 2005; Lundberg et al., 2023). Results: Across studies, acupuncture is associated with clinically meaningful reductions in the frequency and severity of ADT-related hot flushes and improvements in sleep, mood and perceived vitality (Beer et al., 2005; Lee et al., 2009; Ashmole et al., 2015). Patients frequently report reduced interference of symptoms with work, social activities and overall wellbeing, with very few significant adverse effects and a high level of acceptability (Ashmole et al., 2015). These benefits appear most robust for vasomotor symptoms and general wellbeing rather than disease modification, and effect sizes are variable due to small sample sizes and heterogeneous protocols (Lee et al., 2009; Mitchell and Deng, 2024). Discussion: For integrative and medical acupuncture practitioners, prostate cancer offers a clear area where acupuncture can add value as a low-risk, non-pharmacological intervention to support men through demanding treatments and longer-term survivorship (Garcia et al., 2013; Ashmole et al., 2015). The therapeutic relationship, group-based formats (such as ear acupuncture protocols) and emphasis on self-regulation complement biomedical care and may support adherence to standard oncological treatment (Ashmole et al., 2015). It remains essential to communicate unambiguously that acupuncture is not an alternative to surgery, radiotherapy, hormonal or systemic treatments, but a supportive modality designed to alleviate side effects and improve quality of life (Lee et al., 2009; Garcia et al., 2013). Conclusion: Medical acupuncture cannot treat or cure prostate cancer; nevertheless, it represents a safe, acceptable and clinically useful complementary therapy for men seeking relief from treatment-related symptoms and wanting a more holistic experience of care (Lee et al., 2009; Ashmole et al., 2015; Mitchell and Deng, 2024). Further high-quality controlled studies are needed to refine protocols, identify responders and strengthen the evidence base for commissioning acupuncture within integrative prostate cancer pathways (Lundberg et al., 2023; ClinicalTrials.gov, 2024; ClinicalTrials.gov, 2026).