Ear acupuncture tested as pain relief for breast cancer survivors
NCT ID NCT03096041
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether auriculotherapy (a form of ear acupuncture) can reduce muscle and joint pain caused by aromatase inhibitors, a common hormone therapy for breast cancer. 197 postmenopausal women with breast cancer who had pain for at least 3 months were randomly assigned to receive real or placebo ear acupuncture. The main goal was to see if pain scores dropped by at least 2 points.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
auriculotherapy (ear acupuncture device)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a simple, low-cost, low-side-effect way to manage pain from breast cancer treatment.
What could go wrong
This is a completed Phase 3 trial, but auriculotherapy's effectiveness for this type of pain is still debated. The placebo effect may be strong, and results may not apply to all patients.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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CHU Grenoble
Grenoble, France
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Centre François Baclesse
Caen, 14000, France
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Centre Oscar Lambret
Lille, France
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Groupe Hospitalier Paris St Joseph
Paris, France
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Hôpital Cognac-Jay - Forcilles
Férolles-Attilly, France
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Hôpital Privé Paul d'Egine
Champigny-sur-Marne, France
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IGR
Villejuif, France