Can a simple ear massage help cancer patients eat better?
NCT ID NCT05911243
First seen Jan 11, 2026 · Last updated Jun 23, 2026 · Updated 26 times
Summary
This small pilot study tested whether applying acupressure to the ear could help improve appetite and prevent weight loss in people with advanced stomach, esophagus, or pancreatic cancer. The approach uses small adhesive pellets placed on specific ear spots to stimulate the nervous system. Only 3 people enrolled before the study was stopped, so we cannot draw firm conclusions.
Disclaimer
Read more
Show less
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.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for CLINICAL STAGE II ESOPHAGEAL ADENOCARCINOMA AJCC V8 are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Contacts and locations
Show contact details
Enter your email to view the contact information for this study.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Locations
-
Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium
Seattle, Washington, 98109, United States
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Acupressure therapy (auricular acupressure with adhesive pellets)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a safe, low-cost way to help cancer patients with appetite loss and weight maintenance.
What could go wrong
This was a very small pilot study (only 3 participants) that was terminated early, so results are limited and may not apply to others.
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.