Objective To observe the effect of auricular acupuncture with thumbtack needle on perioperative anxiety in breast cancer patients.Methods One hundred patients undergoing breast cancer surgery were randomly divided into two groups: treatment group (group T) and control group (group C), 50 patients in each group.The two groups of patients were given the same anesthesia and surgery.One day before surgery, the patients in the group T were treated with auricular acupuncture at Shenmen acupoint, Endocrine acupoint, and Epicardy acupoint with thumbtack needle, while the patients in the group C were treated with fake patch with no needles in the same position.Anxiety scores of the two groups were compared.Results Compared with the group C, the anxiety scores of the group T were reduced at the time entering operation room and 3 days after operation (P<0.05).Conclusion The nursing intervention of auricular acupuncture at Shenmen acupoint,Endocrine acupoint, and Epicardy acupoint with thumbtack needles can relieve perioperative anxiety in breast cancer patients.