Having had prostate cancer myself, I have looked carefully at our procedures and the advisability of massage and other therapies.

I am more than impressed with the work of the Royal Marsden and that of the Penny Brohn Cancer Care unit at Bristol.  These are two that I have had something to do with and there are hundreds of other units all over the country that do excellent work. 

Each rely heavily on subscriptions and donations.  Links follow.

Breast Cancer.  Minor excisions usually do not need special treatment post surgery and in many cases there is no need for chemotherapy or radiotherapy.  Early diagnosis is the crucial element and you should check for any changes in the breast as a matter of course every week. 

Here, at this clinic, breast examination and lymphatic drainage is standard practice during a full body massage for my clients, or MOT as it is known.  As many women do not know what to look for or do not like to examine themselves, I may suggest referral to a GP if there is any thing that changes over the course of regular massages.

Lumpectomy usually involves removal of surrounding tissue and lymph nodes.  This will of course, mean that there is a loss of sensation and occasionally, a restriction of movement.  Often this will recover on it’s own and with care, most of the sensation may return.  It can take a year or two to do so.

Once the surgery has been completed and the biopsy reports confirm that all the affected tissue has been removed, we can help with the recovery by using Chi Energy and easing the muscles that will be in shock.

The effects of chemotherapy seem to respond well to full body massage with moxa and the relaxation achieved helps to come to terms with the shock and to ease the anxiety.  It helps as well to get used to the scarring when you know that I have seen hundreds of such cases and will never judge only on appearance.

Radical surgery and reconstruction often has an unexpected follow on sensation of grief, loss of femininity and in general a shock to the whole system.  Many do not expect to feel this and may approach the surgery with an air of ‘Get the thing out of me.  I can take it’ and do not expect the emotions that go with it.

Often the woman cannot talk openly with the spouse or partner who may be so traumatised by the event, that they will not and cannot try to understand.  The ego of a man may be quite precarious and many men do not experience tenderness in their upbringing.  This can be a serious situation and to tell friends of your innermost feelings may generate the ‘Oh poor you’ syndrome.

Friends can actually make you feel worse by offering bad advice or anecdotes of what happened to them or someone else.  A few counselling groups may simply embed the depression by hearing every one else moaning and perpetuating the condition.

Either may be avoided by using the counselling provided by the hospital or to come for a therapy session here where you can just let go in the full knowledge that you will not be patronised or criticised, nor will you be told how to feel.  No-one here is a trained counsellor.  We just listen and maybe, give you a hug if you need it.

Cancer in general is on the increase worldwide.  It is as well to be aware of this and to use sun creams whenever in the sun  Even overcast days may have a high UV effect.

Diet is a major factor and some food additives are particularly indicated in causing cancer.   Too much alcohol, fatty foods, fried foods, sweeteners, sugars, air sprays, household chemicals, mobile phones, loss of the ozone layer, power lines, airborne radiation (The Chernobyl effect) petro chemicals, burnt foods, poor hygiene have all be blamed by one group of researchers or another.  Don’t forget that animals have had cancer of one sort or another for thousands of years and ancient human remains often show tumours.  This is not new.  What is new is the ability to diagnose earlier and to identify cancers.  Even fish get tumours if exposed to some chemicals.

In men, testicular cancer and prostate cancer are again, on the increase and men as young as in their twenties are finding lumps or having trouble urinating.  These may not be cancer and there are dozens of conditions that mimic the symptoms.  Do not delay your examination.  Fear kills.   Forget the image of being invincible.  None of us are.

Bowel pain may be IBS or food intolerance.  Get it checked.  Many have absolutely no symptoms at all and have large growths in the abdominal cavity.  Feel for lumps.

I have no intention of writing a medical piece for which I am not qualified.  There is so much help out there and on the internet.  Just remember that only a Medical Professional can diagnose cancer.  Do not listen to anyone else who may say, ‘I can’t see it in you’ by a CAM therapist, as has been said to a few of my clients only to find out later that was wrong.   Here, we refer all lumps and unexplained symptoms unless we are very sure that the problem is muscular.

With all scars, the body can forget to heal the wound and with Chi energy, I have had great success over the last 50 years of linking up the nerves either side of the scars.  How it works is a mystery and I have given up trying to find out how it works.  I just know that it does.

Penny Brohn now offer free treatment to anyone, irrespective of their ability to pay.  Please give generously to them and use their web site link or ring them to do so.

www.pennybrohncancercare.org

The Royal Marsden relies on donations to enable them to continue research and for new facilities.  The staff are excellent and I have nothing but praise for them. (This is where I was treated).

www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk

 I hope that this helps.  If you want to see me, then book in and see what we can do here with Chi-Do Chi Kung Therapies.

When people are asked what has been done, they often say that they have been ‘Tonyfied.’   There is so much involved that does not fit in to any labelled box.  We are holistic therapists and have no wish to be labelled or boxed to sets of rules made up by those who do not practice these arts.

PC stops at the front door….Here you will be treated as a person, not as a potential claim on an insurance policy.    You can come alone or with a friend.  If you wish it, or are nervous, Vicky, my partner can sit in on the session.   Just say so when you book in.

Best wishes….  Tony