Acupuncture and Acupressure in Treating Patients With Moderate or Severe Pain Related to Stage III or Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Diagnosis of stage III or IV primary pancreatic cancer
* At least 4 days since prior change in type of pain medication
* No change in dose of long-acting analgesics
* Actual dose of as needed (PRN) pain medication may vary
* One of the following pain scores:

  * Pain score of at least 4 on a scale of 0 to 10
  * A score of at least 54 out of 88 on the combined relevant Profile of Mood States (POMS) subscales (Vigor, Fatigue, and Confusion) with no evidence that sedation results from cause other than opiate medication and patient reported using PRN opiates on at least 4 of the past 7 days (patients who are eligible for this study on the basis of POMS scores must be taking PRN medication)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* Over 18

Performance status:

* Not specified

Life expectancy:

* At least 4 weeks

Hematopoietic:

* Absolute neutrophil count at least 500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 20,000/mm\^3

Hepatic:

* INR no greater than 2.5

Renal:

* Not specified

Cardiovascular:

* No heart valve dysfunction

Other:

* No uncontrolled infection

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* Not specified

Chemotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior gemcitabine unless there is documented disease progression
* Concurrent chemotherapy (except gemcitabine) allowed

Endocrine therapy:

* Not specified

Radiotherapy:

* At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy
* No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

* At least 1 week since prior epidural analgesia, celiac plexus block, or thoracoscopic or open splanchnicectomy
* No concurrent epidural analgesia, celiac plexus block, or thoracoscopic or open splanchnicectomy

Other:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 3 months since prior acupuncture
* Concurrent experimental treatments allowed