During research I looked into as many of the latest breakthroughs in cancer treatment that was available and I was tested for several but they proved unsuitable for my condition. In a strange way I was lucky, as I was free and unpressurised to experiment with ‘all available therapies’…..however obscure or unlikely.
Conventional treatments tend to be either surgical, chemotherapy or radiation therapies with the latest technologies focusing on gene therapies, earlier detection using screening and blood tests.
In the field of Traditional Chinese medicine, which evolved its ideas over many centuries, the genetic propensities and the impact of viruses and radiation could not be known since these are 20th century discoveries. However the Chinese have understood that something from the environment, such as a toxin, was a likely contributor to development of disease.
Perhaps more importantly for our current concerns, the experience of Chinese doctors points emotional contributions to the development of cancer. In particular, depression (as in repressed anger), anxiety (worry, fearfulness and excess thinking) and grief (usually the loss of a loved one) are thought to result in stagnation of circulation. If this circulatory disturbance continues, there may be a local accumulation – eventually to become the tumour mass – at the weak point in the body. An underlying weakness in an organ or other body tissue is what allows the the problem of stagnancy in circulation to eventually overcome normal patterns of cellular growth…………thus a tumour or some other type of cellular activity occurs.
As an Acupuncturist its more important to treat the patient than the cancer There is a growing body of literature suggesting that acupuncture and moxibustion can make a decisive contribution in the treatment of cancer. Evidence is emerging from China claiming a positive effect on the immune regulation, particularly the maintenance of more healthy levels of white blood cells during chemotherapy induced depression of the bone marrow. Also, encouraging effects are reported on the enhancement of T-lymphocyte, macrophage,and natural killer cell function, and on improvement in lymph circulation.
Acupuncture is on the one hand a popular complementary therapy for cancer patients and on the other hand, despite its considerable popularity, only few large randomised trials have been conducted to actually determine its efficiency in Cancer treatment.
It is also used to treat ulcers, liver and kidney problems, nausea, vomiting and drowsiness.
I regularly go to my acupuncturist for relaxation and general monitoring of my progress and counselling of health strategies. Her advice is very helpful and her treatment uplifting.
Also known as ‘alternative’ or ‘natural therapies’, complimentary treatments are numerous and varied. They are often derived from ‘old’ medicines and herbal remedies although there are modern ones based on scientific research.
I have used acupuncture to boost my immune system, relieve pain and aid healing and believe it has been extremely effective in keeping my good wellbeing.
Try searching these in google or other search engines.
Acupressure, Acupuncture, Alexander Technique , Applied Kinesiology, Aromatherapy , Ayurveda, Bioenergetic Devices, Chinese Medicine / TCM, Chiropractic , Color Therapy , Craniosacral Therapy , Flower Essences , Hellerwork Bodywork , Herbal Medicine, Homeopathy, Hydrotherapy, Hypnosis, Iridology , Light Therapy , Magnetic Therapy, Massage Therapy , Meditation , Mind-Body Techniques , Natural Hormone Replacement, Sound Therapy, Naturopathic Medicine, Osteopathy, Oxygen/Ozone Therapy , Polarity Therapy , Prolotherapy , Reflexology, Reiki ,Rolfing , Shiatsu , Tai Chi / Qi Gong , Therapeutic Touch , Trager Approach , Vitamins , Yoga
Some of these treatments just provide a ‘feelgood factor’ whilst others have a proven success rate and it is important to remember that prevention is unquestionably better than a cure and adopting a healthier lifestyle is the best way forward.
Here are some further sites to explore
There are many new therapies being tested by scientists throughout the world and you should try and keep up to date with latest developments via newspapers, the media or the internet and question your oncologist as to their suitability to you. Here are a few I checked out
In some rare cases of cancer (between 3 – 5 %) gene rearrangement can be identified and treated with ALK inhibitors
PDT is a photosensitising agent, which is injected into the bloodstream and absorbed by cells all over the body. It stays in cancer cells longer than it does in normal cells so approximately 24 to 72 hours after injecting when most of the agent has left normal cells but remains in cancer cells, the tumour is exposed to light. The photo-sensitiser in the tumor absorbs the light and produces an active form of oxygen that destroys nearby cancer cells.
A very accurate method of surgery with less blood loss or damage to surrounding tissue
Latest research suggests that up to 40% of cancers could be caused through viral infections, despite only three viruses having been confirmed as cancer agents at this time. However, this line of thought is gaining ground with scientists
The biggest insight to emerge from the Human Genome Project is that the same genes can behave in radically different ways depending on their interaction with other genes and other influences such as chemicals entering our systems through diet.
When we do some strenuous work our muscles get sore next day and a massage or hot bath can ease the pain or stiffness.
Likewise there are many treatments which can help the body recover or at least make us feel good.
In its various forms can provide relief from stress and a useful stretch exercise which efficiently oxygenises the body
In the field of Traditional Chinese medicine, which evolved its ideas over many centuries, the genetic propensities and the impact of viruses and radiation could not be known since these are 20th century discoveries. However the Chinese have understood that something from the environment, such as a toxin, was a likely contributor to development of disease.
Perhaps more importantly for our current concerns, the experience of Chinese doctors points emotional contributions to the development of cancer. In particular, depression (as in repressed anger), anxiety (worry, fearfulness and excess thinking) and grief (usually the loss of a loved one) are thought to result in stagnation of circulation. If this circulatory disturbance continues, there may be a local accumulation – eventually to become the tumour mass – at the weak point in the body. An underlying weakness in an organ or other body tissue is what allows the the problem of stagnancy in circulation to eventually overcome normal patterns of cellular growth…………thus a tumour or some other type of cellular activity occurs.
As an Acupuncturist its more important to treat the patient than the cancer There is a growing body of literature suggesting that acupuncture and moxibustion can make a decisive contribution in the treatment of cancer. Evidence is emerging from China claiming a positive effect on the immune regulation, particularly the maintenance of more healthy levels of white blood cells during chemotherapy induced depression of the bone marrow.
Also, encouraging effects are reported on the enhancement of T-lymphocyte, macrophage,and natural killer cell function, and on improvement in lymph circulation. I conclude that Acupuncture is on the one hand a popular complementary therapy for and with cancer patients. On the other hand, despite acupuncture’s considerable popularity, few large randomised trials have been conducted to determine its efficiency in Cancer treatment.
It is also used to treat ulcers, liver and kidney problems, nausea, vomiting and drowsiness.
I regularly go to my acupuncturist for relaxation and general monitoring of my progress and counselling of health strategies. Her advice is very helpful and her treatment uplifting.
For those who are squeamish about needles, Shiatsu massage is another traditional healing art that can help in a wide range of conditions from specific injuries to more general symptoms of poor health. Shiatsu is a deeply relaxing experience and regular sessions help to prevent the build-up of stress in our daily lives.
A friend of mine had a lot of shoulder pain leading to trouble with sleeping but at a visit to a shiatsu masseur he was induced into a sleep there and then in the clinic! The relief was immediate, effective and long lasting
Reflexology is the practice of applying pressure to areas of the feet or hands that reflect an image of the body with a premise that such work effects a physical change in the body.
My sister is a reflexologist and she can detect crunch spots or ‘crystals’ in areas, representing body organs where there is pain, disease or discomfort. It is so relaxing that I have been known to fall asleep during the session.
Although not strictly a treatment, microscopy is a method of checking the efficiency and state of your blood and therefore could be considered as a preventative treatment.
Through a very powerful microscope, observations are made on the size, shape, ratios & fine structure of red cells, white cells, platelets, viruses, fungi, parasites, bacteria and yeast in a blood sample.
Analysis of the shape and health of your blood cells can reveal whether your body is lacking in certain nutrients or is infected with bacteria or fungus that ultimately leads to disease. The state and interaction of red blood cells are ‘precursors’ to disease – inflammation, sluggish immune surveillance, poor red cell structure etc.
In a healthy sample the ‘platelet’ cells move around freely in the plasma with only a small proportion of parasites and bacteria. In my blood, the platelets are joined like a stack of coins and blocked by huge crystals of acidic sugars and clumps of yeast. There is a visible abundance of parasites present.
This test reveals where acids may be pooling in the body and shows the level of free radicals or oxidative stress, which are associated with degenerative diseases such as cancer, heart disease, strokes, memory loss, and arthritis.
A healthy sample has a consistent red colour while my sample shows signs of acid (white dots), parasites and toxins (black dots) and the presence of heavy metals, in the form of the discolouration of the outer rings.