Here are some of the symptoms we’ve helped cancer patients manage:
- Post-operative Pain
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Chronic Upset Stomach
- Fatigue
- Chemo-brain
- Neuropathy
- Insomnia
- Mood Swings
- Hot Flashes
- Vaginal Dryness
Find out what we can do to help you.
($25 deposit is required to hold your slot, which will be refunded or applied to your intake appointment if you choose to work with us.)
Click now to request your free consultation.
Or, just call 619-772-4002 and we'll be happy to answer your questions.
Lisa’s approach is gentle and knowledgeable. I relaxed just being in her presence and the results from the session lasted long after the session was over.
Here’s How We Help You Thrive Through Treatment and Beyond:
At Diagnosis
In your initial 90 minute appointment, we’ll sit down with you and take a detailed medial history, look at your labs and other diagnostic information, and review your oncology team’s treatment plan. We’ll help you make sense of all the medical jargon and translate that plan into something you can understand. They we’ll come up with a plan to support you while you receive your care. Plans may include acupuncture, moxibustion, nutrition recommendations, focused meditation or breathing exercises, supplements or herbs, and more. Our goal is to help you minimize side effects and thrive through your treatment.
Before and After Surgery
Acupuncture before and after surgery has been demonstrated to reduce healing times AND reduce the need for post-operative narcotics. If your treatment plan includes surgery, we’ll work with you before your scheduled procedure to make sure your body is as strong and healthy going in as it can be. And as soon as your surgeon says it’s ok we’ll be there to help manage your post-operative pain. With acupuncture, moxibustion, and targeted nutrition, we can help to minimize surgical side effects including swelling, lymphedema, connective-tissue cording, and more.
Link to Study: Perioperative acupuncture medicine: a novel concept instead of acupuncture anesthesia
During Chemotherapy
LLIf your treatment plans includes chemotherapy, we can help to make the whole process smoother. Complementary medicine including acupuncture are great at managing treatment-related anxiety and pain, as well as providing supportive care for nausea, fatigue, brain fog, neuropathy, dry mouth (xerostoma), neutropenia (low white blood cell count), anemia and other common side effects of chemotherapy. We’ll review the medications you’ll be given, look at the most likely side effects, and create a customized plan to help you get through it.
During Radiation
If your treatment plan includes radiation therapy, we can help to minimize and relieve many common symptoms patients experience. The most common issues patients report include fatigue, skin irritation, lymphedema, neuropathy, dry mouth, and difficulty swallowing. Studies have shown that acupuncture can effectively relieve many of these symptoms. Once you have your radiation treatment plan, our team will create a customized plan to support you through your care and through the healing when your care is completed.
After Treatment is Done
LCancer treatment is great at putting cancer into remission, AND it’s hard on any rapidly dividing cells in the body. Many patients discover that when active treatment is done they still don’t feel as good as they’d like and conventional medicine doesn’t have much to offer at this phase of care. Patients are “graduated” from the oncology unit and told they’ll be seen in 6 months after the next scan or bloodwork. But fatigue, neuropathy, concerns about reoccurrence, anxiety, depression, pain, and more can linger. Complementary medicine has tremendous benefit at this phase in the cancer treatment process. We’ll create a comprehensive survivorship plan to provide ongoing support through acupuncture, nutrition counseling, targeted supplements and herbs, exercise recommendations, and more to help our patients rebuild and restore what has been compromised and challenged during active care, and to help minimize the possibility of the cancer returning.
Link to Study: Evidence Grows for Acupuncture Treatment in Cancer Survivors
When There's Nothing Left to Do
The hard truth is that not every cancer patient recovers and thrives. When medical options have been exhausted and it is time to prepare for letting go, we can still help. Our services provide a wonderful addition to palliative care. We can help patients at the end of life with managing pain, relieving breathing difficulties, reducing anxiety, and remaining as comfortable as possible. In addition to our other skills, our team is trained in Hospice Acupuncture and we even can even provide in-home care on a limited basis. Our goal is to help our patients LIVE as fully as possible until it is time to go, and then to GO peacefully.
Link to Study: Acupuncture to Treat the Symptoms of Patients in a Palliative Care Setting
Care for Caretakers
Going through cancer treatment takes a village. Caretakers are beside their loved ones through the whole journey, and can experience their own fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, and more. In addition to taking care of cancer patients, we provide comprehensive emotional and physical support to the caretakers who have such a critical role. Through acupuncture, focused breathing exercises, meditations, and more we help the people caring for our patients to stay healthy and strong for their loved one.
Lisa takes a lot of time to discuss what’s going on, answer questions, go over treatments and make suggestions. Being under her care is encouraging and reassuring.
***Individual results vary. No guarantee of specific results is warranted or implied and your results will depend on many factors.
Common Questions
Does it hurt?
Acupuncture uses tiny needles - about the thickness of a cat's whisker. While there can be some sensation during the needle insertion, it should not be painful and the sensations are quick.
How do I know it’s safe?
Acupuncture has been practiced safely for centuries, and in the hands of an experienced practitioner it’s virtually risk-free.
How long does it take to see results?
People often feel a shift after the very first treatment, but lasting results require a series of visits. Acupuncture is a very powerful way to stimulate endorphin release, which is the most powerful relaxing substance the body makes. Most people experience significant relief within 2-3 months of consistent treatment.
Is there any risk of infection?
In compliance with California and Federal regulations, our needles are sterile, single-use, and disposable. There is no risk of getting an infection from the needles. If you have an immune or other condition we should know about, we’ll make sure to cover that with you before treatment.
Will your treatment mess with my medication?
I always review medications before making treatment recommendations to make sure that there are no unwanted interactions. Sometimes what I do actually makes your medication work better!
Does my insurance cover it?
Every insurance plan is different. While we are not “in-network” with most insurance plans, we will provide you with the paperwork you need to submit bills for our services. Many plans have at least some acupuncture benefit, and you can also use flexible spending plans and HSA funds for your treatments.
Will I be able to go back to work after a treatment?
Treatments are painless, and do not interfere with your daily function. You will probably feel more relaxed following a treatment which may make your work day go more smoothly!
Are there any side effects?
The “worst” side effects are bruising and/or mild soreness where the needles were inserted, and these are extremely rare. There are many “positive” side effects including calmer mood, better sleep, improved digestion, increased relaxation, and a more positive attitude and outlook.
Lisa Nicholson, L.Ac., is a licensed acupuncturist and the founder of Balboa Park Holistic Wellness Center in San Diego, California. For more than 25 years, she has helped patients manage chronic pain, neurological conditions, women’s health concerns, and the physical and emotional challenges of cancer treatment and survivorship.
Lisa has developed a special focus in integrative oncology, providing evidence-informed acupuncture to support people before, during, and after cancer treatment. She regularly works with patients experiencing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), cancer-related pain, hot flashes associated with endocrine therapy, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, dry mouth, and other treatment-related side effects. Her approach is collaborative, complementing conventional medical care and encouraging open communication with each patient’s oncology team.
What distinguishes Lisa’s practice is not only her clinical experience, but also her personal understanding of the cancer journey. As a breast cancer survivor, she has firsthand experience navigating diagnosis, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and survivorship. While personal experience is never a substitute for professional training, it has deepened her appreciation for the emotional, physical, and practical challenges her patients face every day.
Before becoming an acupuncturist, Lisa spent eight years working as a rehabilitation counselor, helping people navigate complex medical systems and life-changing diagnoses. That background continues to shape her practice today. She believes one of the most important parts of her role is helping patients understand their options, ask informed questions, and feel more confident participating in their own healthcare decisions.
At Balboa Park Holistic Wellness Center, every treatment plan is individualized. Rather than relying on standardized protocols, Lisa considers each person’s diagnosis, medical history, medications, treatment timeline, lifestyle, and goals to create a personalized plan of care. Her philosophy is simple: listen carefully, explain clearly, and provide compassionate, evidence-informed acupuncture that supports the whole person—not just the diagnosis.
Whether someone is newly diagnosed with cancer, recovering from treatment, living with neuropathy, or seeking relief from chronic pain, Lisa’s goal is to help patients improve their quality of life through thoughtful, personalized care grounded in both clinical experience and genuine compassion.
Find out what we can do to help you.
($25 deposit is required to hold your slot, which will be refunded or applied to your intake appointment if you choose to work with us.)
Click now to request your free consultation.
Or, just call 619-772-4002 and we'll be happy to answer your questions.
