Survivor Shares How Acupuncture and Nutrition Supported Treatment

Follicular lymphoma survivor Troy Anderson said acupuncture became a valuable part of his care during early treatment, aiding in the reduction of inflammation, helping manage stress and supporting his adjustment to the effects of each new therapy.

He worked with an acupuncturist who researched his treatments and tailored sessions accordingly, starting weekly during new regimens and moving to once a month. Anderson also sought guidance from a naturopathic oncology specialist on nutrition and side effect management, an approach he would use again if he undergoes chemotherapy.

Enrolled on the clinical trial that led to the FDA approval of Monjuvi with Revlimid and Rituxan, Anderson achieved his first lasting response after years of treatment — his lymph nodes shrank by 85% and stayed small and stable a year later.

Transcript

I actually started doing acupuncture really early in my treatment when I got Keytruda and experienced a really negative side effect from it. I began acupuncture then, and I still do it now — about once a month — but whenever I started a new treatment, I did it weekly. The ability to keep inflammation down helped a lot. I found a great acupuncturist who would research the treatments I was on, how they were affecting my body, and adjust accordingly. On top of that, there was the relaxation and stress reduction aspect of acupuncture. Obviously, if you’re needle-phobic, it’s not for you, but for me, it was a big value add.

I also brought in a naturopathic oncology specialist and met with him several times to talk about nutrition, side effect management, and related topics. That was valuable, and if I ever have to go through a classical chemo regimen, I will definitely enlist their help. They have a lot of resources around food, as well as ways to keep yourself mentally and physically in a good place for treatment.

Transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

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