Nurturing Spirit Acupuncture Healing ~ Growth ~ Vitality

Acupuncture for Cancer Treatment Support

Receiving a cancer diagnosis comes with so many challenges and concerns. You may feel in shock, angry, grief-stricken, anxious, depressed, or all of the above in alternating waves. There are so many unanswered questions about what this may mean for you, your loved ones, your work, and the rest of your life.

Then there are the treatments themselves, which often involve some combination of surgery and post-surgical rehabilitation, chemotherapy, radiation, and possibly long-term medications. All of these come with hefty and unpleasant side effects that can seriously impact your quality of life.

Fortunately, acupuncture can be incredibly supportive for patients coping with cancer diagnosis and treatment. I have received advanced training from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Integrative Medicine Service and have helped many cancer patients manage the physical and emotional effects of their illness. Having witnessed my own mother's 12 year struggle with cancer, I feel deep compassion for my oncology patients. I wish my family had known about the benefits of acupuncture when my mother was ill, and I am happy to be able to offer those benefits to others now.

If you are a cancer patient, acupuncture can help you at any point in your journey, whether you have just been diagnosed and are preparing for treatment, actively in treatment, recovering from a course of treatment, or seeking to support your remission with healthy lifestyle choices.

If possible, it is a good idea to schedule your first appointment before you start chemotherapy or radiation so that you will not be unduly fatigued by the process of giving your health history during your first visit.

Once in active chemotherapy treatment, my patients get the best results when they schedule regular acupuncture sessions sometime in the three days prior each chemo treament.

Qi Gong for Breast Cancer Prevention and Recovery

I am also certified to teach Wu Ming Qi Gong for Breast Health, which is a gentle series of movements that promote breast health and can aid in recovery from breast surgery. It is appropriate for women with elevated risk of breast cancer, breast cancer patients and survivors, women with fibrocystic breasts or pre-menstrual breast swelling and tenderness, and any woman who wishes to do something proactive to care for the health of her breasts. The movements can be modified so that they can be performed even by women actively in treatment for cancer. Please contact me if you are interested in learning this Qi Gong form.

Testimonial:

***Kate was a vital element in my healthcare team while I was battling cancer in 2014. I believe that our sessions while I was undergoing chemotherapy and radiation made all the difference in how well I handled my cancer treatments.

Kate helped my body manage the swelling and pain that came post-surgery and during radiation. While going through chemotherapy, she was a godsend! Our sessions dealt with some of the "normal side effects" of cancer treatment that I was experiencing: headaches, muscle and joint pain, neuropathy, digestive and mouth issues, and the never-ending fatigue. Her treatments focused on helping my body be strong enough to continue fighting the good fight. Kate always remained positive, and often bolstered my spirits along with helping me find some calm amongst the chaos.
R.S.

For patients undergoing cancer treatment, acupuncture can help:

• Decrease nausea and vomiting
• Reduce fatigue
• Ease body aches and joint pains
• Treat diarrhea and constipation
• Improve appetite
• Help heal mouth sores
• Promote the formation of new blood cells
• Reduce the pain and numbness of peripheral neuropathy
• Ease post-surgical pain
• Speed the skin's recovery from radiation damage
• Calm anxiety
• Alleviate depression
• Promote a sense of calm and relaxation