Episode 210 - Can Acupuncture Help Menopause Symptoms After Cancer? Looking at the Research

Episode 210 - Can Acupuncture Help Menopause Symptoms After Cancer? Looking at the Research

March 24, 2026 · 40 min · Episode 210

About this episode

The episode explores the effectiveness of acupuncture in alleviating menopause symptoms for cancer survivors.

Today, we’re exploring the evidence with medical acupuncturist Maria Vega. Many cancer survivors experience menopause symptoms such as hot flushes, joint pain, insomnia and anxiety — often while navigating complex treatment plans or endocrine therapy. For some, HRT may not be an option, which leads many people to explore complementary approaches like acupuncture. But does acupuncture really work? And what does the research say? In this episode, I’m joined by Maria Vega, a medical acupuncturist who works in integrative oncology supporting people after cancer with a whole array of evidence-based strategies. We explore the evidence behind acupuncture for symptoms such as hot flushes, aromatase inhibitor–related joint pain, sleep disturbances and anxiety, while also discussing safety considerations and how acupuncture may fit into a broader, integrative approach to managing menopause after cancer. What is acupuncture and how does it work? The science behind acupuncture and menopause symptoms Research on acupuncture for hot flushes and joint pain after cancer Safety considerations for cancer survivors Episode Highlights: 00:00 Introduction 05:42 Integrative Oncology Nurse Specialist…

People in this episode

Host: Dani Binnington

Guest: Maria Vega

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: integrative oncology

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