Cancer Care & Support

Cancer is an overall term for a group of diseases that occur when cells begin to reproduce abnormally, eventually damaging or killing healthy tissue. Most cancers are named according to where they begin in the body, and there are more than 100 different types. The most common are breast cancer, skin cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer. Your treatment plan will be based on many factors, including the type and stage (how far it has spread) of the cancer and your overall health. While cancer treatments have proven to be effective, they do have serious side effects to take into account. The most common treatments include:

Surgery: Performed to remove the cancer if possible. Surgery may be used alone or along with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or biological therapy.

Chemotherapy: The use of medications to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy generally lasts from 3 to 9 months, and can have side effects including fatigue, nausea, vomiting, hair loss, early menopause, and hot flashes.

Radiation therapy: The use of high doses of radiation to destroy cancer cells. Side effects generally include fatigue, hair loss, and skin darkening at the site of the treatment.

Biological therapy: This treatment works by boosting the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells. Side effects depend on the specific type of therapy, but they can include rashes or swelling, flu-like symptoms, fatigue, nausea, and loss of appetite.

Acupuncture can be a helpful treatment for cancer patients before, during, and a fter chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy or surgery.

Modern cancer care involves a complicated choreography of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments, all of which in itself take a heavy toll on the patient’s body. In recent years, cancer acupuncture has become an increasingly popular supportive therapy that allows the patient’s body to better tolerate and respond to treatments.

Many oncologists refer their patients for acupuncture treatment to manage cancer symptoms and cancer treatment related symptoms. Acupuncture treatments can manage the side effects of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and hormonal therapies. It can also improve the quality of life of cancer patients by reducing pain and inflammation, improving sleep, supporting normal digestive function, and reducing stress.

Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine have been shown to be effective for Cancer Support.

Benefits of Acupuncture for cancer support:

• Reduces pain (from cancer or surgery) and discomfort
• Reduced toxicity of Chemotherapy
• Effective treatment for neuropathy
• Stress reduction
• Helps alleviate anxiety and fear
• Relieves depression
• Improve Sleeping issues
• Reduction of fatigue
• Boost immunity
• Reduces inflammation
• Restores normal blood flow
• Alleviates poor appetite, nausea, vomit, dry mouth, hot flashes
• restores digestion

How Acupuncture and TCM Can Help?

Acupuncture and TCM have been used for thousands of years to maintain health and relieve symptoms. Practitioners work to treat imbalances in the body’s Qi, or vital energy, by inserting fine, sterile needles at specific acupoints.
Acupuncture and herbal medicine as supportive care for cancer can help heal and strengthen the body, mind, and spirit. These therapies can help wounds heal and enhance the lymph flow to prevent lymphoedema. They can help prevent the side effects of chemotherapy, improving pain, lessening nausea, dry eye and dry mouth, improving energy & vitality and help protect the organs from toxins. They can also enhance the immune system by increasing the white blood cells that have been depleted through chemotherapy.

Here at Energy Body Acupuncture clinic, we realize the side effects of cancer treatment can be as bad as symptoms of the disease itself, reducing a patient’s overall quality of life. Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine are not a cure for cancer, but it can complement traditional anti-cancer interventions by managing the symptoms and side effects of the disease. Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine are a natural, holistic and safe therapeutic option for all age groups. It is an excellent option to consider if you or your loved one is suffering from the effects of cancer and its treatments.

The goal of the treatment

Our goal is to offer support during and beyond any Western medical treatment you may be receiving, whether that be surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can help to limit the unpleasant side effects of these treatments and assist the healing process as well as helping to tackle problems such as pain, poor appetite, sleep problems, anxiety and stress., and to improve your quality of life.

Course of treatment

There are 10-15 acupuncture sessions in one course of treatment. Treatment frequency depends on individual condition. Chinese herbs work synergistically with acupuncture.

Testimonial:

I began working with Dr. Yang shortly after starting chemo to treat colon cancer. His treatments, usually scheduled shortly after the chemical infusions, mitigated the side effects dramatically, especially the low energy and queasiness, and have helped to ease both the focal neuropathy and peripheral neuropathy. His treatments have also helped in the healing of my surgeries. In addition to his skill, Dr. Yang’s bedside manner is both warm and competent, which allows me the room I need to relax and be comfortable and receptive to treatment. Dr. Yang is also very good at explaining what he is doing in language that I can understand. He is sensitive to my particular circumstances, and is consistently kind and respectful. I highly recommend him. --------Khloe F.

I have metastatic breast cancer and have been in treatment on a clinical trial for over a year. My side effects are vomiting daily and extreme fatigue. I have tried many different things to try and combat these side effects and make my quality of life improved but nothing has worked. Well yesterday, I tried acupuncture for the first time. I went to Energy Body Acupuncture center. I am amazed, after 1 session I have had not only No vomiting or nausea since the treatment but I actually have some energy today. Not sure what the future holds with me and this treatment but I am certainly committed to stay the course on this. He recommended 2x a week initially and then we will reassess. I am so impressed and grateful for meeting Dr. Yang and his talent at acupuncture. I am optimistic for the first time that maybe I can stay on the medical treatment that is working and enjoy a quality of life to spent with my family and friends. --------Jessica B.