Oncology Acupuncture in New Orleans
Cancer treatment is hard on the body. The fatigue that chemotherapy causes isn't ordinary tiredness — it's a bone-deep depletion that sleep doesn't fix. Nausea can make eating feel impossible. Peripheral neuropathy makes your hands and feet feel like they belong to someone else. Anxiety runs underneath everything, and sleep — the thing your body needs most to repair — becomes unreliable.
Your oncology team is managing the disease. Acupuncture's role is to help you function while they do.
What Acupuncture Addresses in Oncology Patients
Research on acupuncture in oncology settings has focused on several categories of side effect management. Evidence is strongest in the following areas:
Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting — one of the most consistently studied applications of acupuncture, with multiple randomized trials supporting its use alongside standard antiemetics
Cancer-related fatigue — distinct from ordinary fatigue and notoriously resistant to rest alone; acupuncture shows measurable effects in multiple studies, including those conducted at major cancer centers
Peripheral neuropathy — particularly chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), which causes numbness, tingling, and pain in the hands and feet
Sleep disturbance — a nearly universal complaint during active treatment and into survivorship
Anxiety and mood disruption — not as a replacement for mental health support, but as a physical regulation tool
Hot flashes — particularly relevant for patients on hormone-suppressing therapies such as aromatase inhibitors or androgen deprivation therapy
Joint pain and musculoskeletal side effects — common with aromatase inhibitors and some immunotherapies
Post-surgical recovery support — pain, swelling, and return of function
I don't make claims about acupuncture's effect on cancer itself. It doesn't treat the disease. It treats the person living through the treatment.
What to Expect in a Session
Your first session will be longer — about 75 minutes. We'll go through your diagnosis, your current treatment protocol, what medications you're on, and what's affecting your quality of life most right now. That last part matters. Oncology patients often have multiple symptoms competing for attention, and the priority changes week to week.
I'll ask questions your acupuncturist may not usually ask: What phase of treatment are you in? When's your next infusion? Have you had any recent blood counts? These details change the treatment.
You'll lie comfortably on a treatment table. Needles are thin — most people feel little to nothing. For many patients, the session itself is one of the few hours in the week when they're not thinking about their diagnosis.
Follow-up sessions are 60 minutes. I typically recommend weekly sessions during active treatment, with a plan to reassess as your protocol changes.
Training and Why It Matters
There are many capable acupuncturists in New Orleans. Fewer have trained specifically for oncology.
I completed integrative oncology training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center — one of the leading cancer centers in the world and a pioneer in the field of integrative oncology. MSKCC's program is designed for practitioners working directly with cancer patients, covering the clinical considerations, contraindications, and evidence base specific to this population.
I'm a member of the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO), the professional organization that sets evidence-based guidelines for integrative care in cancer treatment.
I've also trained in Hospice and Palliative Care Acupuncture — because some patients I see aren't in active treatment. Some are in the transition to palliative care, and comfort and quality of life become the entire goal. I take that seriously.
What this means for you: when you come in during active chemotherapy, I'm not guessing. I know the specific protocols that are safe for patients who are immunocompromised. I know when to be conservative and when it's appropriate to push. I communicate with your oncology team when it's relevant.
Who This Is For
This work is for you if:
You're in active chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy and struggling with side effects
You've completed treatment and are dealing with persistent fatigue, neuropathy, or hormonal side effects
You're on long-term hormone-suppressing therapy (aromatase inhibitors, ADT) and managing joint pain, hot flashes, or fatigue
You're in palliative or hospice care and seeking comfort-focused support
You've been referred by an oncologist, navigator, or social worker and want to understand what acupuncture can offer
Who This Is NOT For
If you're looking for a practitioner who will make claims about acupuncture curing or treating cancer, I'm not the right fit. I work alongside your oncology team — not around them.
If you're in active treatment and haven't told your oncologist you're considering acupuncture, please do before booking. It's a simple conversation, and most oncologists are comfortable with it.
How to Get Started
Initial sessions are $155 and run approximately 75 minutes. Follow-up sessions are $130 for 60 minutes.
For patients in active treatment or with financial hardship, I offer an Oncology Support Session at a sliding scale of $65–$95. This is available by application — just mention it when you reach out.
I provide superbills for all sessions. Some insurance plans cover acupuncture out-of-network. FSA and HSA funds are eligible.
Book Your Initial Consultation | Contact Me to Ask a Question
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I come in during active chemotherapy?
A: Yes, with awareness. I'll want to know your current protocol, recent lab values if available, and where you are in your treatment cycle. Timing and technique are adjusted based on where you are in treatment. Some patients feel best coming in the week before an infusion; others prefer the week after. We'll figure out what works for your body.
Q: My oncologist hasn't mentioned acupuncture. Should I ask?
A: Yes — and most oncologists are open to it, particularly at larger cancer centers where integrative oncology is part of the program. You can tell them you're seeing a practitioner with integrative oncology training at an MSKCC-affiliated program. If it would help to have more information to share, I'm happy to provide it.
Q: Will acupuncture interfere with my treatment?
A: When practiced by a trained integrative oncology practitioner, acupuncture does not interfere with standard cancer treatments. I'm trained to recognize contraindications — including sites to avoid for patients with specific implants, low platelet counts, or active infection — and will always practice within those safety parameters. If there's any question, I'll consult with your care team before proceeding.