With a trained therapist, reflexology can bring great relief to cancer patients
IN THE past 10 years or so, reflexology has become one of the most popular complementary therapies used by those suffering from cancer.
In the Christie Cancer Care Hospital in Manchester, England, almost half of all patients - both on the wards and at outpatient clinics - opt for reflexology as part of their complementary care to orthodox treatment.
"We feel that the once common fear of spreading cancer through reflexology has diminished," says Carol Donnelly, a reflexologist who gives sessions of reflexology to people who attend the Arc Cancer Support Centre, Eccles St, Dublin and trains reflexologists on how to work with cancer sufferers.
"Clients comment on the effect reflexology has on their pain levels, treatment side effects, mood and energy levels, interactions with their family and even on their ability to perform or not perform different daily activities," explains Donnelly who, together with fellow reflexologist and tutor Terry Kenny, reviewed about 50 people who had received reflexology at Arc.
Feelings of relaxation, an enhanced sense of self and decreased tension were the main psychological benefits people said they got from reflexology.
Physically, the benefits included improved appetite, improved sleep and increased energy. Some people also said they experienced some pain relief and less lymphoedema. Almost 60 per cent of participants were initially diagnosed with breast cancer.
"Our study reflected results of several other studies carried out elsewhere in relation to quality of life issues," explains Donnelly, who will speak at the first international symposium on reflexology and cancer in Israel later this month. However, Donnelly is keen to emphasise that reflexologists need specialised training to give treatments to cancer patients.
"It's important that therapists are trained in cancer diagnosis and treatment," she says.
Peter Mackereth, clinical leader for support services (which includes complementary therapies) at Christie NHS Trust Hospital in Manchester, says a form of adapted reflexology is most suited to cancer patients. "We give our patients 20-30 minutes of gentle reflexology. We use very gentle pressure. People like it because they can sit on a chair or couch and talk or not talk while having it," explains Mackereth, who is co-author of Massage and Bodywork: Adapting Therapies for Cancer Care (Elsevier).
At Arc Cancer Support Centre, each patient is first assessed by an oncology nurse who establishes their individual needs and priorities. The medical teams are also, in the main, supportive of reflexology as a therapy which complements the orthodox approach to cancer.
"The oncologists are very positive about our work because they see how it helps people deal with the stress and emotions that go along with cancer," says Donnelly.
Good listening skills and knowing when to give shorter and longer sessions are crucial when treating cancer patients. "A five- or 10-minute session can be just as valuable as a 40-minute treatment. It really depends on how the client is when they arrive," she says.
Michelle Spratt (42) has had a series of reflexology sessions at the Arc centre. "I had surgery to remove a melanoma in July which didn't spread into my body. Yet, it was only after the treatment that I began to really face up to having cancer," she explains.
Spratt availed of the counselling services offered at Arc and then moved on to reflexology. "On a physical level, I felt my whole body relaxed through my feet. It also helped me let go of emotions I needed to let go of and mentally now I'm not as worried about things like work or money," she explains.
Reflexologists and patients alike must be aware when reflexology should not be given.
"Reflexology should be avoided when deep vein thrombosis exists. It also shouldn't be given when a patient has undiagnosed pain or inflammation, has a fever or is generally feeling unwell," says Donnelly. Patients with low blood platelet counts should also be treated with extra care.
Ultimately, according to Peter Mackereth, it's the practitioner not the therapy that's contra-indicated when it comes to reflexology and cancer.
"There is no evidence that gentle reflexology can do harm to cancer patients," he says, adding that if a reflexologist is not trained to treat cancer patients then it's not appropriate to have reflexology with that practitioner.
