“More and more women are spending their own money on complementary therapies to help them fight the disease, reports Barbara Lantin
“Dr Jane Maher, a consultant oncologist at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in Middlesex and medical adviser to Macmillan, says: “Most oncologists recognise that complementary therapies bring benefits to patients. We are not talking about a cure, but about quality of life.
“There is also some evidence that complementary therapies can help with the side-effects of treatment. A small trial at the Linda Jackson Macmillan Centre at Mount Vernon Hospital found that both traditional and ear acupuncture reduced the hot flushes caused by Tamoxifen, and improved sleep, memory, concentration and general wellbeing.
“Acupuncture can also relieve nausea from chemotherapy, while homoeopathy may help with fatigue from radiotherapy. Meanwhile, aromatherapy, reflexology, visualisation and relaxation techniques may reduce anxiety caused by the illness and treatment.
“Some therapies are proving very worthwhile, and I am strongly in favour of them being offered free to patients, but we fund them through a charity,” says Tim Bucknall, a consultant breast surgeon at Queen’s Hospital in Burton on Trent, whose unit offers acupuncture, homoeopathy, reflexology and aromatherapy.”
For full article see: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/alternativemedicine/3325208/A-new-approach-to-breast-cancer.html
www.telegraph.co.uk 24 Oct 2005
