Complimentary therapies and yoga

Hi all,

My cancer unit offers complimentary therapies you can access alongside conventional treatment. I'll be having radiotherapy, chemo and brachy. Has anyone had any experience of complimentary therapies alongside these treatments and would you recommend? I think I can choose from reflexology, reiki, aromatherapy and some other things!

 i am also considering starting yoga - do I start now or wait until after treatment?

thanks x

I'm a Medium & I love alternative therapies. I use healing crystals for everything! Since my diagnosis whenever I've sat down I've put my pouch of crystals down my trousers, my cancer got downgraded from 1B1 to 1A1 & no one can believe how well I've healed since my hysterectomy on 8th June. I also believe in PMA!

Good luck with your treatment xxx

Wow that's pretty amazing! 

I must admit I don't know much about crystals and am unsure if I would be hypocritical in using them when I haven't before now, but I may  have to give it a try!

Xx

I don't think you'd be hypocritical at all hunni!

Goodu luck xxx

Nothing hypocritical about trying something new :-)

Hi ladies

I had reflexology and reiki and i blooming love it!  When i was in chemo i was having terrible tummy problems and i swear by these two treatments.  I still have them now.  The way i see it is that the Dr's are in charge of the care of my body but i am in charge of the care to my mind.  Even if they did nothing physically they relaxed me and took stress away and that was hugely benefitial.

Def have some!

Anna xxxx

Thanks all - much appreciated! x

The cancer unit I'm having my treatment in also offer these therapies.  The reflexology foot massage cones highly recommended by a lady having her treatment while I was having the transfusion last week. 

I figure that if the mind is well,  the body is better able to heal. I for 1 will be giving the reflexology and Indian Head massage a go while I'm there. 

The lovely nurse doing the treatment said that while we go through something not so nice, we should have something to look forward to at the same time 

The cancer unit I'm having my treatment in also offer these therapies.  The reflexology foot massage cones highly recommended by a lady having her treatment while I was having the transfusion last week. 

I figure that if the mind is well,  the body is better able to heal. I for 1 will be giving the reflexology and Indian Head massage a go while I'm there. 

The lovely nurse doing the treatment said that while we go through something not so nice, we should have something to look forward to at the same time 

Hi,

Yes I would say go for any therapies that you fancy!  I'd love to know more about which crystals would be helpful for cervical cancer.

Just having someone spend some time talking to you and healing you in a different way is marvellous.

Yoga would be lovely if you find a gentle class and be aware that it can bring emotions up - maybe find a teacher who suits you, all yoga is so different.

i love complimentary medicine and have been using castor oil packs, herbs and homeopathy. 

A good book for looking at the emotional side of illness and integrating it with medical treatment is Womens Bodies, Womens Wisdom by Christiane Northrup - maybe form the library (huge book!). She has pages on vitamins and herbs etc for healing.

mmm now I fancy some reiki - my hospital does not offer this but we have the Penny Brohn centre nearby. They do induciton days and residentials for people with cancer.

love Mitch

Hi Sweet Pea,

I went to the Local Maggies Centre to check out what therapies were available, and found they run several including meditiation, tai chi, relaxation to name but a few.

I had read about the use of acupuncture helping with the effects of radiotherapy on the body, and enquired about it there.  The Lovely centre Manager, Andrew was able to recommend a practitioner he's made several referrals to who is fully conversant with treating cancer patients and aware of the risks of comprimise of the auto immune system to clients undergoing chemo and radiotherapy, so I am looking to book a session and try it out,  

 

I'll keep you up dated how it progresses,

Onwards & updwards,

Feisty x

Hi Sweet pea and everyone - yup!! Bring it all on I say can't believe how amazing the NHS is as I am Def place non to get reflexology massage and maybe other things - what is reiki? ? I am stage 2B no nodes and waiting or EUA and planning before starting chemo radio and brachy in 2 weeks xxx

Whereabouts do you live Feisty? (You don't have to say) what's a maggie's Centre?

I'm definitely interested in finding out more about acupuncture.

 

Hi hannah!

your treatment sounds like it'll be a lot like mine.

 

I love your positivity (read your other posts)

I'm trying to get myself healthy (diet and exercise) but I either have zero appetite or I want comfort food. I struggle to find the time to exercise as I have a toddler and I'm still working :( I am starting yoga next week.

(Apologies for stilted posts!)

Hi Sweet Pea,

I'm in Scotland.  

There are Maggie's Centre's all over the UK, They specialise in advice, support to both Cancer patients and their families.  

I'm still waiting for the green light from my Consultant to be allowed to undergo Acupuncture, so am like a coiled spring just now.  In the meantime, I think I'll take the opportunity of going along to the centre and trying out some of the other activities, if nothing else to focus my mind and to try and keep things in some kind of perspective.

I really hope you get a date to start your treatment very soon, at least then you will feel that something positive is going on, and I hope you get the answers from your Consultant you require, especially with regards to PET Scan or not etc.

I've included a link to the Maggies Centres website so you can see for yourself,

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&sqi=2&ved=0CCEQFjAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.maggiescentres.org%2F&ei=cKWaVczbK4HC7AbYwpvYDg&usg=AFQjCNFGzX2kWpTF-yF81EGCoNtyt41pXA&bvm=bv.96952980,d.ZGU

Stay strong, well & focused,

Feisty xx

Hey Sweet Pea,

I have had the comfort food / no appetite thing too. I think it was a normal reaction to shock, so give it time. Lots of love!

Hi sweet pea and everyone!  I am in the northeast and James Cook is my region centre who have a holistic centre. I just think at the moment the only thing I can take control of is my diet and state of stress (or hopefully relaxation) if your adrenaline levels are pumping (which let's face it they try to do.constantly) those chemicals are not helpful.for our recovery whatever stage we are at. I know this sounds very bizarre but one of the things that has helped me a bit is the thought that actually no one - I mean NOBODY knows what is around the corner. The person next to you, your partner even your children may have a car crash in 8 months time and we cannot guarantee that won't happen - can we? - however do we get into a state of panic each time they travel on the road? NO. So if you accept that actually none of us are in control - cancer patients or not - we are the ones really appreciating how precious life is and how we can absolutely learn to live in the present, appreciate what really matters in life and focus on things that arguably everyone should be focusing on - just we have cottoned on quicker! Keeping body and mind as damp healthy as we possibly can, doing things we enjoy and appreciate, not sweating the small stuff and hugging our children, friends and family and finding nice things to do to give us lovely memories. Because hey - any of us could go next week and nothing to do with cancer!!! That way of thinking is really helping me so thought worth sharing xxxx