Complementary Cancer therapies
There is a growing demand from cancer patients for alternative and new complementary therapies.
Catherine Kalamis finds out what's new and talks to one who has benefited.
CANCER patients in Guernsey are being offered the chance to try alternative and complementary therapies. Dr lan Hyams, an integrative medicine specialist, said he could access alternatives to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy and administer them in the island for - elected patients.
But if that s too radical, there are other holistic approaches that can be used alongside conventional cancer treatment to improve immune system function and detoxify the body.
Dr Hyams, a GP who runs a clinic in London and visits the island regularly, said alternative therapies would be considered only if the patient's five-year survival rate with chemotherapy and radiotherapy was considered to be 'extremely poor'. It is understood that at least one local patient with cancer is using an 'alternative chemotherapy treatment from Austria called Ukrain and is 'doing very well'.
Ukrain is a combination of the celandine plant and an early chemotherapy drug. The treatment may work by interfering with oxygen respiration within the malignant cells, while apparently strengthening healthy cells and the immune system. There have been 10-year studies conducted in Vienna and success rates are best when it is based in the early stages, he said. 'It can be used as an alternative for someone who is against chemotherapy or who has been turned down for chemotherapy because their cancer is too advanced,' said Dr Hyams. But he stressed that it was not an option for everyone. As a doctor who takes an 'holistic' approach, combining orthodox and complementary or alternative therapies, Dr Hyams said ' there were a number of other treatments
to support cancer patients who were going through treatment or who were in remission. These include detoxification through nutritional juicing therapies, colonic irrigation, liver detox supplements and
skin brushing, anti-oxidant treatments using vitamin C and grape-seed extracts and therapies to support hormonal functions and reduce stress Dr Hyams described detoxing as crucial for cancer patients. 'There is an increase in malignancies from carcinogens and different toxins in the environment. Most cancer patients receive an environmental toxicity assessment and some appropriate detoxification programme.' He also uses oxygen therapies and immuno-therapy, designed to boost the 'natural killer cell' function, and is currently involved in a clinical trial for an immuno-therapy vaccine.
De-stressing is also important and Dr Hyams is about to embark on a clinical trial with a professor at Imperial College, London, to investigate the benefits of hypnotherapy.
If an alternative cancer therapy is not for you, there are other complementary treatments available which can help. Contracting breast cancer could hardly be described as a positive experience but, for Clare Cairns, the disease has opened up a whole new world of complementary therapy which has transformed her life. Mrs Cairns, 52, had never used the 'non-conventional' approach before being diagnosed with cancer. But, last year, she was confronted with the devastating discovery that she had breast cancer. A tumour 'the size of a duck's egg' had been found. Mrs Cairns underwent a mastectomy and was prescribed a course of powerful chemotherapy. 'It was when I went to Bulstrode House to discuss the chemotherapy treatment that it really hit me that I had cancer. Before, I had somehow put it out of my mind. I just wanted to get rid of it.' The diagnosis and radical treatment had happened quickly. It was after her first couple of sessions of chemotherapy that Clare was told about Jean Tanner, an aromatherapist who was working with cancer patients, but who has since left the island. Clare admits that she was not sure at first whether to go ahead or not but, having taken the first step, she started to discover the benefits and has not looked back.
'I found it very therapeutic and relaxing. It made me realise that you can be tense without knowing it. Afterwards I felt fantastic.' When Jean left Guernsey, Clare continued with massage therapy with Mandy Janes, who now runs sessions specifically for cancer patients. Following this introduction to holistic massage, Mrs Cairns has tried other therapies and even enrolled on a two-day course at the world-famous Bristol Cancer Care Centre, where she experienced spiritual healing for the first time. She said that having cancer and being introduced to new therapies had helped her to become much more body aware.
The massage had helped with the lymphoedema (swelling) she had suffered after her operation, while the spiritual healing had helped her on another level. Mrs Cairns, who is the chair of the Guernsey branch of Cancer Research and also does voluntary work with the WRVS, has now finished her chemotherapy but continues with her weekly massage sessions. I really do like it. There is no way I would just sit down for an hour and do nothing but, during a session, you really unwind -even nod off.' She now plans to carry on using complementary therapies, even when she gets the all-clear for cancer. 'I think they are very good and they have opened up whole new world. It is not indulgent – they really do help body and soul’
'If you have professional nurses telling you that patients value it, then it is obviously a worthwhile thing,' said Nancy Moore, secretary of the society. Time has shown that complementary therapies are of value and doctors are now more open-minded, she said.
Anything that adds to quality of life, as well as feelings of well-being and relaxation, is bound to be beneficial, she said.
Massage was once considered to be unsuitable for cancer patients. There were concerns that the process could move malignant cells around the body. But that has now been dispelled and it is recognised there are benefits, said Mandy Janes. Therapists rhythmically work on body tissues, either around the head and neck areas, or over the whole body.
Touch in a non-clinical way is very important, said Mandy.
Cancer patients endure many examinations, treatments and procedures and non-invasive touch is therapeutic.
The therapies she offers them are all about treating the whole person - the mind, body and spirit. So many patients from Bulstrode House want to see her that she now takes an 'overflow' of appointments at her home. 'There is a lot of stress and tension - for example, people who are waiting to get the all-clear. 'A lot of people cannot talk about that to their family and don't want to alarm them.'
She often finds that people open up and talk to her during sessions. 'It makes me feel privileged,' she said. Cancer patients need a gentler touch than other clients, explained Mandy, who trained as a nurse in her teens.
She uses massage for lymph drainage and to improve scar tissue. 'Some patients say that they feel a tingling as the nerves knit back together,' she said. Others like to have a whole body massage to aid relaxation. Massage and other therapies can improve the body's own ability to fight disease. After a course of chemotherapy, the body's immune system may be knocked out and massage can help patients feel calmer and more able to cope with the process. There can be a lot of anger with cancer patients and questions like 'why me?' Massage and other therapies can help to resolve this.
'Quite often families are frightened to touch their dear ones but touch is so important, said Mandy. Her words are echoed by another massage therapist, Peter McCracken of the Wellspring Clinic, at the Guernsey Tennis Centre. He has a special interest in cancer patients and has attended a two-day massage course at the Cancer Care Centre in Bristol. 'People can shy away from a cancer patient, but touch is important,' he said. He wanted to know more about caring for such patients after being inspired by a local sufferer. 'She was an older lady who had a real enthusiasm for complementary therapies .and was really inspirational - she was very pleased to receive massage.' Mr McCracken said that he believed in the power of human touch.
'It can actually help a lot of ills and, when people get off the couch and say it helped them feel better, to me that is very rewarding.' He was taught to use a light touch with cancer patients by the Bristol experts.
'Cancer patients benefit from the scar tissue being palpated and manipulated. It helps healing, oedema and lymph can be dissipated and it increases the feeling of well-being - that all comes from massage.'
Palliative care nurse and reflexologist Heather McGhee also uses a light touch with cancer patients. There is a great need for complementary therapies,but patients have to be careful and not have too much of a good thing. It can be tiring for both the patient and the therapist, she said.
'When someone is just coming through chemotherapy or radiotherapy, they can feel under par and we want to encourage them and activate the body's own healing systems. 'The aim is to help improve, or lessen, the side effects of treatments.
'We listen to the patients very carefully. They can lead you the right way.' Many patients come to her wanting help with relaxation, aches and pains or sleep problems. Reflexologists work with the feet, on the principle that congestion or tension in specific parts of the foot mirror congestion or tension in a corresponding part of the body.
The Touch Research Institute of America has found that women with breast cancer benefit from massage. It is claimed that it can decrease anxiety, depression and anger, reduce swelling and muscle tightness and enhance the immune system.
Dr Hyams is offering a new screening test for cancer patients which involves sending blood samples from Guernsey to America.
The results can help patients monitor their progress, he said. The FDA-approved anti-malignin antibody in serum (AMAS) screening test can measure levels of an antibody found to be raised in patients with cancer. Local patients have already used the test to monitor their progress. The test is expensive because the blood samples must be couriered to America hi dry ice.
Dr Peter Gomes, the MSG oncologist, was unavailable for comment.
(Reproduced courtesy Guernsey Press and Star)
Article dated 10 December 2004
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