Complementary Therapies and Cancer Care

Can they help you in your care?

Complementary therapies are generally viewed as treatments which are given alongside conventional medical treatments. By choosing a therapy, or group of therapies, to suit personal needs, many people with cancer and life changing illness, can feel they regain some personal control over managing their health.

Practitioners of complementary therapies take a holistic approach to the management of health, understanding the interrelationship of spiritual, emotional and physical well being. The therapist may discuss wider aspects of your life, including temperament and effects of past experiences, in order to acquire a greater understanding of you as an individual.

Many complementary therapies available claim to be helpful in reducing the side effects of cancer treatments, improving symptoms of illness and improving your general well being and relaxation. This is confirmed by many patients who have found treatments helpful for symptoms such as pain, nausea, diarrhoea, sleeplessness, anxiety and fear. However it has to be pointed out that not all therapies have yet been satisfactorily investigated by researchers. If you are interested to find out more about scientific evidence then the FC team can direct you to useful websites and journal articles. For example to the website of the journal ‘Positive Health’ www.positivehealth.com has updates of research into complementary therapies.

Professional Registered Therapists

Every therapist at the FC is registered by a recognised professional body and all have experience in the management of cancer and chronic illness. We recognise that it is important to feel confident in the professionalism and expertise of the therapist you consult – to feel safe and supported. What suits one person may not suit another. It can take time to establish a relationship and for any possible benefits from the treatment to become apparent. It is important to talk such issues through with your therapist who will support and advise you through your treatment.

Some complementary therapies may not be appropriate in all cases. Therefore it is essential that an assessment is made by one of the FC team in order to discuss the benefits and possible drawbacks of a specific therapy. After an assessment is made your treatment plan will be discussed with your doctor.

We have the following therapies available through The Fountain Centre

Therapists are available through contact with the Fountain Centre. Some therapists are available for treatments on Sundays, evenings or in the home. Our staff can give you more details on any of these services.