Breast Cancer

Acupuncture for breast cancer

What is Breast Cancer?

Cancer occurs when changes occur in the genes that regulate the division of cells. The mutations in these genes allow for an uncontrolled division and multiplication of cells. These cells continue to grow, resulting in tumors. Breast Cancer is a division of the cells in the breast tissue. It’s typically confined to the mammary glands and ducts (lobules) which act as pipes, transporting milk to the nipple. However, there are other random causes for breast cancer that originate in the fatty tissue or fibrous connective tissues within the breast. The uncontrolled breast cancer cells are invasive and overtake healthy breast tissue, spreading through the lymph nodes. These are the primary route that cancer cells use to travel to other parts of the body.

Symptoms 

In its early stages, breast cancer does not always cause symptoms. In many cases, a tumor may be too small to be felt, but an abnormality can still be observed on a mammogram. If a tumor is large enough to feel, the first sign is usually a new lump in the breast that was not there before. Each type of tumor has different symptoms at first, that grow into more severe symptoms as the condition worsens. Symptoms for the most common types of breast cancers include:

  • A newly developed lump in the breast different from the surrounding tissue
  • Breast pain
  • Red and pitted skin on the breast 
  • Nipple discharge (that isn’t breast milk)
  • Swelling of the breast (whole or partial)
  • Bloody discharge
  • Skin in the breast or nipple peeling or flaking 
  • Random sudden changes in breast size and/or shape
  • Inverted nipple
  • Difference in appearance of the skin
  • Lump or swelling under the arms 

These symptoms can also point to different medical conditions. If experiencing any of these, it is best to see a doctor right away as cancer is best treated early. 

Types of Breast Cancer

There are multiple different types of breast cancer. They are categorized into two main groups, ‘invasive’ and ‘non-invasive. Non-invasive is also known as ‘in situ’. Invasive means the cancer has spread to other glands and tissue, while non-invasive means it has not. 

Non-invasive:

  • Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) – Cancer growth confined in the breast ducts. Has not invaded other tissues
  • Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) – Cancer growth in the milk-producing glands of the breast. Has not invaded other tissues. 

Invasive:

  • Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) – This is the most frequent and common case of breast cancer. It can spread to not only other parts of the breast but also to other organs and tissue. This is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide, with about 1.35 million new cases each year. This type of breast cancer begins in your milk ducts, then invades nearby breast tissue. When this happens, the cells may have already begun to move into surrounding spaces or lymph vessels or blood vessels near your breast.
  • Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) – Develops first in the lobules of the breast (milk-producing glands) and has invaded other tissue

Other more rare types of breast cancer include:

  • Paget disease of the nipple
  • Phyllodes tumour 
  • Angiosarcoma 
  • Inflammatory breast cancer
  • Metastatic breast cancer
  • Triple-negative breast cancer

If you think you might have breast cancer, then visit your doctor, get a mammogram check or come and see us at Centre of Balance. Centre of balance practices Traditional Chinese medicine that uses a holistic approach to diagnosing and treating breast cancer patients. 

Our Offer to You

Fill in our online questionnaire for free – and save the $135 it would cost you to do this detailed medical history in person with a practitioner.  You can request a phone call from a practitioner after they have read your online form, or just book your initial exam for $40.  Call us on 07 846 7956 to book, or fill in the questionnaire now.

References:

https://www.healthnavigator.org.nz/health-a-z/b/breast-cancer-about/

https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer#metastatic-breast-cancer

Leave Comment

Monica

I am originally from Hebei province in China. I hold a NZ bachelor’s degree of health and science with a major in acupuncture. I am honoured to be an acupuncturist at Centre of Balance. Helping patients to alleviate their pain brings me the greatest joy. Chinese medicine emphasises the unity of human beings and nature. During the treatment, I hope to not only relieve your pain but also help you to understand the principles behind acupuncture’s effectiveness, as well as the significant impact of diet, emotions, lifestyle habits, and living environments on disease recovery. Self-healing is an ability that our bodies are naturally endowed with.

I studied acupuncture in New Zealand and completed one and a half years of supervised clinical internship before graduating. In the early stage of my training, I mainly worked with patients experiencing neck, shoulder, and lower back pain. Under the guidance of senior clinical tutors, I gradually developed hands-on experience and confidence in treating musculoskeletal pain conditions.
As my clinical exposure expanded, I began treating a wider range of internal conditions. Alongside traditional acupuncture, I was introduced to Umbilical Acupuncture and Tungs-acupuncture Points. What interested me most about these approaches is that they often do not require needling directly at the painful area, yet can still achieve very effective results.
I was especially inspired by observing my supervisor use Umbilical Acupuncture to treat common conditions such as insomnia, menstrual irregularities, and even rheumatoid arthritis, with very positive outcomes. Another supervisor was highly skilled in Tungs-acupuncture Points and achieved excellent results in treating pain, infertility, menstrual disorders, and a variety of women’s health conditions. After completing my studies and entering clinical practice, once I observed Dr. Szenan Phua using Tungs-acupuncture points to help cancer patients relieve pain, which further strengthened my trust in this treatment method.
I later completed training in Dr. Tan Balance Acupuncture, which had a strong influence on the way I approach treatment. One of the most noticeable features of this method is how quickly patients often feel improvement, especially with pain conditions. Dr. Szenan Phua’s New Balance Acupuncture combines meridian regulation with structural adjustment and internal organ balancing, including techniques such as pulse balancing and spinal adjustment.
From my clinical experience, pain is rarely just a local issue. It often involves underlying organ weakness or structural imbalance. When these aspects are addressed together, treatment can be more thorough and longer-lasting. I also apply this approach to internal conditions, particularly in fertility and women’s health. This includes supporting natural conception, IVF preparation and embryo transfer, pregnancy support, early-pregnancy nausea, and late-pregnancy labour induction. I combine these treatments with concepts learned from a few additional fertility training, which has given me a broader and more flexible clinical perspective. This has reinforced my belief that acupuncture should be adapted to each individual rather than applied through fixed formulas.
Two other areas of study that have been very helpful in my clinical work are Tongue Diagnosis and Dr. Zhu’s Scalp Acupuncture. Although tongue diagnosis is taught in my standard Chinese medicine training, further study allowed me to deepen and refine my diagnostic skills.
My first formal training was in Li’s Tongue Diagnosis, which looks not only at organ patterns, but also at how different areas of the tongue reflect the body’s structure. This system also explores personality traits and changes during pregnancy, making it both clinically useful and engaging. I later attended online lectures on Yin’s Tongue Diagnosis and studied the related materials independently. this learning has helped me make clearer and more accurate pattern differentiation, allowing my acupuncture treatments to be more targeted. It covers a wide range of conditions, including skin disorders, oncology-related presentations, mental health patterns, and joint or limb problems. In practice, tongue observation often provides valuable insight even before a patient begins describing their symptoms.
In addition to the methods above, I regularly use local bloodletting techniques, which can be very effective for improving circulation, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. I also incorporate auricular (ear) acupressure and stimulation, which I commonly use for allergies, insomnia, headaches, stress management, and various internal conditions.
In my clinical work, I value taking the time to listen carefully to each patient and to understand their overall health, lifestyle, and concerns. Based on each individual’s condition, I also provide personalised dietary guidance and lifestyle or wellness advice to support overall health and long-term wellbeing. I commonly support patients with musculoskeletal pain, such as neck, shoulder, knee, and back pain, as well as stress-related conditions, sleep issues, migraines, digestive concerns, and women’s health and fertility-related conditions.