Yes — gentle acupuncture can help ease many common side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, including nausea, fatigue, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, dry mouth, poor appetite, trouble sleeping, and anxiety. It works alongside your cancer treatment, never in place of it. Many major cancer centers in the United States now offer acupuncture to their patients for exactly this reason.
Cancer treatment saves lives. But anyone going through it knows the honest truth: the treatment itself can be very hard on your body. The nausea that makes food unthinkable. The tiredness that sleep doesn’t fix. The tingling fingers and toes. The mouth so dry that eating and speaking become uncomfortable.
Your oncology team is focused on treating the cancer — as they should be. But you also deserve support for how you feel along the way. That is where we can help.
Can Acupuncture Really Help During Chemotherapy and Radiation?
Yes. Acupuncture is one of the most widely accepted supportive therapies in cancer care today. Research has shown it can reduce chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting, and studies also support its use for cancer-related fatigue, nerve symptoms, pain, and sleep problems. This is why acupuncture is now offered at many of the country’s leading cancer hospitals as part of what is called integrative oncology.
To be completely clear: acupuncture does not treat cancer, and it is never a replacement for chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or anything your oncologist prescribes. Its job is different — to help your body cope, so you can stay stronger and more comfortable through treatment.
Which Side Effects Respond Best?
In our Beaverton clinic, these are the side effects we most often help patients with:
- Nausea and vomiting — one of the best-studied uses of acupuncture, often noticeable within the first few sessions
- Fatigue — the deep, heavy tiredness that rest alone doesn’t touch
- Numbness and tingling in hands and feet (neuropathy) — a common effect of certain chemotherapy drugs
- Dry mouth after radiation — especially for patients treated in the head and neck area
- Poor appetite and digestive upset — helping you eat and keep your strength up
- Trouble sleeping, anxiety, and low mood — calming a nervous system that has been through a lot
- Hot flashes — common with certain hormone-related treatments
“Patients often tell me the same thing: ‘I just want to feel like myself again.’ That is exactly the goal — helping your body stay as steady as possible while your medical team does its work.”
Is Acupuncture Safe During Cancer Treatment?
When performed by a licensed acupuncturist who understands cancer care, yes. At our clinic we use a Korean-style technique that is especially gentle — very fine, sterile, single-use needles with minimal stimulation. Most patients find sessions deeply relaxing, and many fall asleep on the table.
We also take extra precautions for patients in active treatment. Your blood counts, treatment schedule, and how you are feeling that week all shape how we treat you. And we always encourage you to let your oncology team know you are receiving acupuncture — good care works best when everyone is informed.
What About Traditional Eastern Medicine Formulas?
Alongside acupuncture, I am a certified herbalist and prescribe custom herbal formulas from the Traditional Eastern Medicine tradition. During active chemotherapy or radiation, we are very careful and conservative with formulas — timing matters, and anything you take must be disclosed to and coordinated with your oncology team.
Where formulas often shine is recovery. After treatment ends, many patients are left depleted — low energy, weak digestion, poor sleep, a body that doesn’t feel like its old self. A custom formula, written specifically for your pattern after a thorough evaluation, can support that rebuilding process gently and steadily. You can read more on our Traditional Eastern Medicine page.
What Does a First Visit Look Like?
Unhurried and gentle. We talk through your diagnosis, your treatment plan, and — most importantly — which side effects are bothering you most. I check your pulse and tongue, which in Traditional Eastern Medicine tell me a great deal about your current state. Then we make a simple plan focused on your comfort: usually weekly sessions during treatment, adjusted around your infusion or radiation schedule.
You do not need to know anything about acupuncture to begin. You just need to show up. We take care of the rest. If you are curious about the clinic or Dr. Sohn’s background, our About page and FAQ are good places to start.
When to call your medical team first: if you have a fever, signs of infection, uncontrolled vomiting, chest pain, or any sudden or severe symptom, contact your oncology team or seek medical care right away. Acupuncture supports your treatment — it never replaces urgent medical attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need my oncologist’s permission to try acupuncture?
You don’t need formal permission, but we strongly encourage you to tell your oncology team — most are supportive, and many cancer centers recommend acupuncture themselves. We are happy to coordinate or answer their questions.
How often should I come during treatment?
Most patients in active treatment come once a week, scheduled around infusion or radiation days so you arrive on a day you feel up to it. After treatment ends, visits typically spread out as your body recovers.
How much does it cost?
The initial session is $175, which includes your full consultation. The consultation is charged only once, whether your care includes acupuncture, a custom herbal formula, or both. Our clinic is self-pay, and a superbill is available on request — call (503) 404-4567 with any questions.
Where can I get acupuncture for chemo side effects near Portland?
Kihyon Sohn Acupuncture is in Beaverton, Oregon — about 10–15 minutes from SW Portland via OR-217 — serving Beaverton, Portland, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Aloha, Cedar Hills, and Hillsboro. Appointments can be booked online.
Supporting Cancer Patients in Beaverton, Portland, and the West Metro Area
Going through chemotherapy or radiation is one of the hardest things a person can do. You should not have to simply endure the side effects and wait for it to be over. Gentle, careful support is available — close to home, from a licensed practitioner who will work respectfully alongside your medical team.
If you or someone you love is in treatment right now, we would be honored to help. Book a consultation online, or call us first if you’d like to talk it through — there is no pressure, only support.
You focus on healing. Let us help with the rest.
Gentle acupuncture and Traditional Eastern Medicine support for chemotherapy and radiation side effects — nausea, fatigue, neuropathy, sleep, and recovery. Serving Beaverton and the greater Portland area.
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