Acupuncture Improves Breast Cancer Survivors' Perceived Cognitive Impairment

Real and sham acupuncture were more effective at improving breast cancer survivors' perceived cognitive impairment compared with usual care, while real acupuncture was superior to sham acupuncture in improving objective cognitive function, according to results from the randomized ENHANCE phase II clinical trial presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), held December 9-12, 2025. More than 40% of breast cancer survivors experience cancer-related cognitive difficulties, which are sometimes referred to as "brain fog" or "chemo-brain," according to Jun J. Mao, MD, MSCE, the Laurance S. Rockefeller chair in integrative medicine and chief of integrative medicine and wellness service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.