Complementary Treatments for Those Living with Cancer

This month, we met with Sally Radford who is a volunteer for the charity My Cancer My Choices. The charity provides a wide range of complementary therapies for people with Cancer and who recently have been given the King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Sally has been volunteering with My Cancer My Choices for 5 years, after many years running her own complementary therapy business in Maidenhead. The charity has its main office and therapy rooms in Charvil, just outside Twyford, and they also have treatment rooms in Newbury, Reading and Bracknell. Their services are available to anyone living or undergoing treatment for Cancer in Berkshire.

As Sally puts it, My Cancer My Choices offers support, time out and help for those diagnosed with cancer to cope.

Every therapist who works for the charity offers their services via My Cancer My Choices free of charge, often giving, for example, a morning every fortnight to the charity and their patients. Clients are given 6 treatments in the therapy they feel they will most benefit from. Whilst these treatments are free of charge, as a charity, donations are always welcome, no matter how small.

These 6 free treatments, often taken on a weekly basis, aim to enhance the patient’s wellbeing, relax them physically and also provide a safe place for people to talk to team members who understand their situation.

Sally tells us that when people undergo chemotherapy or radiotherapy, they can often suffer from side effects, such as hot flushes, fatigue, insomnia and nausea, so the treatments aim to reduce these symptoms. Cancer can, of course, cause tension and anxiety, so taking time to concentrate on your physical and mental wellbeing is vital and this is the aim of My Cancer My Choices.

Most therapies are in person on a one-to-one basis, however there are a few (e.g., mindfulness), that can take place online. Therapies include;

• Acupuncture/Acupressure (one of the most popular treatments)
• Massage (oncology massage working on the lymphatic system and scar tissue massage)
• Reflexology (pressure applied to hands and feet)
• Mindfulness (teaching the mind to be more peaceful therefore encouraging relaxation)
• Yoga (postures to aid relaxation and coping with stress)
• Reiki (energy vibration to promote wellbeing and healing)
• Art Therapy (using art to explore feelings and worries)

As most of us will have been touched by cancer, be that ourselves or by witnessing its effects on a loved one, we know how important it is to receive caring support, both physically and emotionally. Home Instead have helped and assisted many people undergoing Cancer treatment during the 12 years we have been supporting people in Berkshire and South Oxfordshire. Our team of Care Professionals are available to take people to and from therapy sessions or appointments. We often help people with the daily chores that you are often too tired to do when you are undergoing treatment. The importance of a freshly cooked meal, the benefit of a freshly made bed, the laundry and ironing piles done – some of the things our team have helped with during a clients treatment. Having someone in the house, close at hand, while taking a shower or bath, can be helpful to some. We can help people of any age for any amount of time so our support is often gratefully received whilst a client undergoes treatment. And seeing the same Care Professional each time means a trusting bond is built, which is vitally important during times such as these.

Above all, with support from our team at Home Instead and volunteers at charities such as My Cancer My Choices, those living with cancer know there is caring support available to them during a physically and emotionally stressful time.

If you would like to find out more about My Cancer My Choices, go to https://mycancermychoices.org/