Integrated Cancer Support Therapy
The need for a cancer support therapy regime to work alongside conventional treatments for cancer administered by medical doctors and oncologists, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, has evolved during clinical observations of patients experiencing fear, anger and a general feeling of helplessness once they receive a diagnosis of cancer by their doctor.
The aim of complementary support therapy for cancer is not to encourage false hope, but to create a feeling of control and personal responsibility in the lives of the patients and their families so that they can focus their attention on a positive daily programme that will enhance their quality of life, in many cases increase their longevity, and in some instances even contribute to a remission from the illness.
The cancer support therapy offered by Nicola Bradbury has developed after working with cancer patients since 1987. This programme involves, counselling, herbal medicine, micronutrient therapy, special dietary profiles for each individual patient, vibrational medicine and environmental analysis for toxins and electromagnetic disturbances that can undermine the patients health.
Counselling
Counselling is given to provide emotional support for the patients and their families. This allows the patient to express the anger, grief and fear that follow the shock of a cancer diagnosis. This is carried out in a safe confidential setting with empathy, compassion and constructive support at a time when the patient is most vulnerable. It also frees the patient from the anxiety of feeling that they have to suppress negative emotions to shield their close family from more stress. Many patients have expressed how invaluable they view this opportunity to 'let off steam.' The extensive research carried out by Dr Elizabeth Kubler-Ross has shown that even terminal patients find a sense of peace, acceptance and release by receiving emotional support at this time by professional counselling in a sensitive and empathic manner. A holistic approach takes into consideration the total person - mind, body, spirit - and research shows that disharmony in any or all of these areas results in dis-ease or disease. Dr Candace B. Pert, an internationally recognised pharmacologist, has brought to the attention of the orthodox medical world the importance of the mind/body link and its effects on the immune system. She is a member of the American Collage of Neuropsychopharmacology with an international reputation in the field of neuropeptide and receptor pharmacology and chemical microanatomy and has lectured world wide on her theories on emotions and mind body communication.
Herbal Medicine
Non-toxic and scientifically researched and tested herbal treatments are used to support the patient's immune system and to help with detoxification and elimination thereby giving the body support during chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy recommended by their oncologist. This has proved effective in improving platelet levels and increasing blood count levels.
( Please view blood count graphs )
Side effects such as nausea and fatigue, that are common in many forms of chemotherapy, are greatly reduced by herbal medicine support therapy, enabling patients to have more energy to cope with their daily life. Transdermal herbal creams and gels are used as part of the holistic treatment programme to provide immune system support for patients who may be unable to take oral herbal medicine. These have proved very effective in recorded case histories ( See patient G in case study 2. )
Micronutrient Therapy
Part of each patient's integrated complementary support programme is micronutrient diet therapy. This is a system of nutritional support using microelement technology devised by Professor Charles Beijns. Professor Beijns states that :
'microelement technology has been developed on the principle that when the vibration or makeup of the cell's structure has been in some way corrupted, it can be restored to its natural frequency and integrity by the transmission to that cell of the correct microelement message'
Clinical assessment of the effectiveness of microelement technology was carried out on children exposed to the radiation of Chernobyl. The results showed a significant improvement in their immune function.
Microelement therapy is invaluable because many cancer patients suffer extreme weight loss and microelements are easily absorbed, are in solution and are tasteless and therefore easy to take. They are totally safe to use with children and the elderly.
Diet
Guidance is provided based on extensive scientific research into the appropriate foods that support the immune system and give nourishment thus allowing the body to function more efficiently and providing increased energy and mental clarity.
An adjunct treatment used at the clinic is supplementation with Arabinoxylane, from rice bran ( Biobran MGN-3 ) a natural killer cell booster. Biobran has been extensively researched by Dr Ghoneum at the Department of Immunology at Drew University in Los Angeles. His findings were as follows:
" Arabinoxylane, from rice bran (MGN-3), was examined for its augmentory effect on human natural killer cell activity in vivo and in vitro. Twenty four individuals were given MGN-3 orally at three different concentrations: 15, 30 and 45mg/ kg/day for 2 months. Peripheral blood lymphocyte natural killer cell activity was tested by 51 CR-release assay against K562 and Raji tumour cells at 1 week, 1 month and 2 months post treatment and results were compared with base line natural killer activity. Treatment with MGN-3 enhanced natural killer activity against K562 tumour cells at all concentrations used."
( References Ghoneum M. Enhancement of human natural killer cell activity by modified arabinoxylane from rice bran [MGN-3] International Journal of Immunotherapy XIV i 1998 Ghoneum M.and Namatalla G. NK Immunomodulatory function in 27 cancer patients by MGN-3, a modified arabinoxylane from rice bran. 87th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research. 20-24 April 1996.)
The blood count graphs show how inclusion of MGN-3 in the holistic regime can improve blood count results even while under going radiotherapy.
Vibrational Medicine
Vibrational medicine is a vital part of the patient programme. This includes chakra balancing and the use of kinesiology ( a method of muscle testing ) to discover weaknesses in the patient's chakra system that correlate at a physical level to their endocrine system. Electromagnetic field balancing is an extremely important part of the cancer support therapy as research over many years into the biological effects of earth radiation has shown harmful influences on patients' health. Each patient is checked for electromagnetic field disturbances that may have resulted from environmental sources such as exposure to electricity sub-stations, pylons, long hours in front of a computer screen, geological faults and earth energy disturbances caused by mining, under ground streams and natural earth radiation. Charts and plans are drawn of the patient's living and work environment and, using dowsing and muscle testing areas of electromagnetic field imbalances are detected so that a patient may move their bed or desk chair from an energetically draining location to a strengthening position. This simple discovery during a treatment assessment can have a profoundly positive effect upon the patient's energy levels, sleeping patterns, mental attitude and overall immune function.
Environmental carcinogenic pollutants and toxic household and cosmetic products are avoided and eco friendly products are recommended. Also a totally organic diet is encouraged whenever possible. Guidance sheets and reading references are available at the clinic for friends and family who want to take supportive action around the home creating a safe environment.
The use of flower remedies is part of the support therapy regime. The most commonly known remedies are the Bach flower remedies. These are a simple and natural method of establishing equilibrium and harmony through the personality by means of wild flowers identified by Edward Bach. Since the work of Dr. Bach the flower remedy repertoire has grown and encompasses flower remedies from around the world.
A long continued worry or fear will deplete the individual's vitality. He/she will feel out of sorts, below par and then the body loses its natural resistance. As peace and harmony are achieved, unity returns to mind and body, closing the circuit as it were, and allowing the life force to flow freely again thus providing the body with a chance to produce its own natural healing. Flower remedy profiles are blended individually for patients as part of their holistic treatment programme.
All treatment programmes are devised to meet each patient's unique needs using consultation and kinesiology. This ensures that a balance of physical, mental and spiritual needs is maintained as the patient undergoes their orthodox treatment with their doctor. All patients are encouraged to inform their doctors and oncologists about their holistic regime so that an atmosphere of cooperation and teamwork is maintained in providing for the patient a better quality of life as they cope with their cancer.
Patient Case Studies
Case study 1 -Patient M.
In 1998 patient M, aged 11 years, presented with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. He had severe headaches, bone pain and multiple bruising. He was under orthodox medical treatment with his GP and oncologist at his local hospital. He was undergoing a heavy chemotherapy protocol that, although essential, was making him exhausted, nauseous and depressed. This case is especially tragic as the patient had, only a couple of years before lost his father from thyroid cancer. His mother was extremely anxious and depressed from her previous bereavement and now feared for her son. Patient M. was carefully screened and placed on a cancer support regime of herbal juices, nutritional support, microelements, aerobic oxygen drops, vibrational medicine and environmental health checks. It was discovered that he was sleeping in an area of geopathic and electrical stress in his home. He was moved to another bedroom and his bed was in a safe space away from any electromagnetic disturbance. He showed tremendous courage and a willingness to follow his support therapy regime, and over the weeks his blood counts improved and he had far fewer infections than the other patients on the ward. He was given several courses of chemotherapy and his blood counts were taken regularly and showed an improvement while using the support therapy. This is most unusual as haemoglobin and platelet levels usually plummet during courses of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy and the doctors at the hospital commented " little boys with this condition don't usually get this far through the maintenance programme." Patient M. has not required a bone marrow transplant and has remained lively and energetic throughout his treatment. He has been a credit to his family and an inspiration to all who know him and the hospital staff gave him a 20% chance of relapse over the next year and they continued to monitor him for the following five years. Ten years later he now plays football for his local team, has been to college and is a healthy young man with a bright future.
To view the charts of this patient ......................... Please click here (300kb file).Case study 2 - Patient G.
Patient G, aged 64 years, presented in January 1998 with advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma. He was extremely weak, cachectic, weighing approximately seven-and-a -half-stones, with a jaundiced pallor, and was too weak to withstand any more chemotherapy prescribed by the doctors. He and his wife were very frightened by the prognosis which at the time seemed terminal. They were both very nervous about trying the cancer support therapy but slowly, after talking through their fears, decided to give it a try. Patient G. began the cancer support regime, slowly introducing herbal juices, microelements, nutritional support, vibrational medicine and transdermal creams when he felt too sick and weak to drink his herbal teas and juices. Gradually his colour improved, his energy increased and he began to gain weight. Eventually, after several months of cancer support therapy. He was able to restart chemotherapy and withstand the side effects. This patient showed a great deal of patience and determination to get better and received wonderful loving support from his wife. Now, ten years later he remains cancer free. He gardens and does gentle decorating jobs around his home.
Case study 3 - Patient A.
In July 1997, patient A. aged 68 years was referred for cancer support therapy by his GP. He was presenting with advanced prostate cancer with bone metastases. His cancer was inoperable and he was put on zoladex treatment by the hospital urologist. The prognosis was considered poor, the normal life expectancy being eighteen months from diagnosis in advanced prostate cancer. He went through a thorough case history screening and was placed on herbal support therapy juices, the doses of which were monitored each month and adjusted according to his needs. He was given microelement nutrients and MGN-3 immune booster support. Flower remedies and counselling were given for his bouts of depression, his blood pressure and blood oxygen levels were monitored regularly each month and nutritional advice was given. He was screened for geopathic stress and environmental factors that were affecting his health and necessary adjustments were made willingly by the patient.
This patient, although given a short life span prognosis at the time of diagnosis by his oncologist continued to enjoy his retirement, moved house, played bowls regularly, drove his car and had a good quality of life for another ten years until he died peacefully aged 78 years in December 2007.
Conclusion
The above is just a tiny selection of patients that have used support therapy along side their orthodox treatment protocols and over the many years of doing this work, there have been so many patients whose courage, determination and willingness to change have been witnessed. Even terminal patients with very advanced cancers have found some benefit and improved quality of life from the cancer support therapy. I would like to take this opportunity to say what a privilege it is as a therapist to journey with these wonderful people, both the patients and their families, and to exchange laughter and tears. The years of clinical experience in this field have shown me that teamwork with conventional and complementary medicine in an integrated form is the way forward for cancer care.
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