This week’s blog post has been written by Sara
Davenport, founder of Breast Cancer Haven and holistic health blogger of ReBoot Health. Sara shares 6 top complementary
therapies available on the NHS for people with breast cancer…
Twenty years ago, I set up what is now one
of the UK’s leading breast cancer charities, Breast Cancer Haven. Today it has
six centres across the country - in London, Leeds, Hereford, Hampshire,
Solihull and Worcester. It offers support - counselling, nutrition,
information and complementary therapies - to anyone affected by breast cancer,
free of charge.
The Haven epitomises the successful
working of integrative medicine - a partnership of complementary therapies and
conventional approaches working hand in hand. In its early days, whilst
hospital treatment focused on surgery, chemo and radiotherapy, The Haven had
one of the widest ranges of therapies on offer under one roof anywhere in the
world. Today, things have moved on and across the UK hospital oncology units
and CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) are working together to
benefit patients with all types of cancer.
In the topsy-turvey frightening months
that follow a breast cancer diagnosis, complementary therapies have been shown,
in research studies and in practise, time and time again, to make a
quantifiable difference to the side effects of conventional medical treatment
and to the quality of life of the people who used them alongside those
treatments. The Haven Programme has repeatedly been described as
‘life-changing’ by the tens of thousands of people who have benefited from the
charity’s work. Without it, people felt their recovery would have been
infinitely harder.
I am a fervent believer in the power of
combining both approaches following any diagnosis of breast cancer. The
hospitals and oncologists have a range of medical approaches on offer - drugs,
surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy to address the cancer - but there is a
world of gentler, kinder yet still effective options that can also play a part
in your healing and make a substantial difference to your recovery.
Complementary therapy can support you
physically, mentally and emotionally during what is often a difficult journey.
The importance of feeling you are playing a part in your own recovery cannot be
understated, replacing the debilitating feeling of powerlessness that is often
reported when you hand over all control to the hospital.
Many breast cancer units now offer some or
all of the following therapies as part of their protocol:
Counselling
Releasing emotional
stress is an important part of your healing and one that people often
under-rate. You may be offered a series of sessions with your
hospitals counsellor or psychotherapist and I would encourage you to take up
the offer. I have so often heard people say that they don’t feel ‘counselling’
is for them, but the breast cancer path can often be a lonely one.
Your family and those closest to you are
often in shock themselves, perhaps feeling powerless about what to do and what
to say to best support you. They want you to be ‘OK’ as you go through
treatment, when ‘OK’ is the last thing in the world you may be feeling. You may
as a result, not feel you can show your true feelings, that you have to pretend
to be fine to re-assure them, when inside the fear and the grief are often
overwhelming and you are anything but.
Having someone to talk to who understands
what you are going through and with whom you can safely and fully express your
feelings can be life-changing - and, vitally, help you to feel less alone.
Breast cancer brings many difficulties with it and can strike cruelly and
directly at the heart of your femininity - the removal of a breast, the
resulting scarring, the loss of your hair and the effects of the drugs on your
libido are hard to deal with whatever the circumstances, but even harder alone.
Nutrition
Make cleaning up your
diet a priority as you go through treatment. Many hospitals offer consultations
where a trained nutritionist will go through your eating habits with you,
recommending changes alongside a programme of specific supplements to take that
will help your body to stay strong and boost your immune system to work more
effectively.
Immunotherapy
The latest
cutting-edge cancer treatment – works with the immune system to boost its
abilities to destroy your cancer cells. Cutting out certain foods, and
replacing them with others has also been shown to minimise the unwelcome side
effects of many of the prescribed drugs, reducing hot flushes, muscle and bone
aches and rashes.
Acupuncture
Has been shown to
help breast cancer patients with the side effects of chemo, radio, surgery,
hormonal drug treatments, reducing hot flushes, night sweats rashes and the
intensity of muscle and bone aches. It helps with tiredness, vomiting and
feelings of nausea. You may be offered one to one acupuncture sessions, or ear
acupuncture in a group.
Reflexology
Reflexology is based on the idea that
stimulating specific points on your feet can improve the functioning of
corresponding organs, glands, and other body parts. A recent study has found
that reflexology helped ease some side effects from chemotherapy and hormonal
therapy treatments in women being treated for metastatic breast cancer. In particular
it eased shortness of breath which is sometimes a side effect of the treatment
for breast cancer.
Massage
Aromatherapy massage, using specially
chosen essential oils, combines the healing power of touch with specially
chosen scented essential oils that have been shown to trigger deep emotional
release, and change and boost your moods. If you are currently having
chemotherapy, however, you may become highly sensitive to scents and smells so
if possible delay any appointments until after your treatment has finished.
Hospitals also offer sessions with
specialist oncology massage therapists, who are highly experienced and
understand exactly what is needed after surgery and cancer treatment. If
you have had lymph nodes removed there is a risk of developing lymphoedema, so
look for a therapist who understands the lymphatic system and knows how to
drain excess fluid away from the affected arm and breast area.
You can follow Sara's fantastic blog, ReBoot Health, here.
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