Effect of Fatigue Three-Needle acupuncture therapy in a patient with cancer-related fatigue: A case report

RATIONALE: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a persistent, subjective sense of tiredness or exhaustion experienced by cancer patients. Acupuncture is a safe and feasible optional method for adjunctive treatment for CRF. However, the therapeutic effect of the Fatigue Three-Needle acupuncture therapy in patients with CRF has not been well-investigated. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 53-year-old woman had been experiencing fatigue since the radical resection of sigmoid colon cancer 2 years ago, for which she underwent traditional Chinese medicine treatment. DIAGNOSIS: After some review, she was diagnosed with CRF. Although she underwent traditional Chinese medicine treatment, she continued experiencing fatigue symptoms. INTERVENTIONS: When she visited our hospital, she was treated with the Fatigue Three-Needle for 3 sessions a week, 30 minutes per session. OUTCOMES: After 4 weeks of treatment, the patient felt refreshed and relieved from the fatigue. LESSONS: The finding from this case provides further evidence for the therapeutic benefits of the Fatigue Three-Needle therapy for patients with CRF, suggesting that acupuncture treatment with the Fatigue Three-Needle is an effective option for patients with CRF.