In fact, acupuncture is helping so many breast-cancer patients deal with the side effects from surgery chemotherapy and radiation that many insurance carriers are now paying for the treatment.

"When you're being treated with acupuncture for cancer, it can help keep some of the [nausea] away and help your energy level stay a little bit higher ¡ª at least that was my experience," said cancer patient Deb Simpson.

"Western medicine is very good at directly going to the areas and getting rid of the tumors," said Karen Sulger, an acupuncturist. "We're very good at trying to help with the side effects caused by these very strong treatments."

Many breast-cancer patients who are in remission say they keep up the acupuncture treatments because they're so relaxing.