Narrative 3

Introduction

Below is a personal account of an experience of using services at Penny Brohn Cancer Care. The highlighted words open web pages providing more information or evidence about a service, or therapy.

Narrative

I’ve been using Cancerpoint for almost 2 years. I’ve had counselling, reflexology, healing and shiatsu. I’ve  also been on a two-day course and done a course on self-help techniques. Recently after a Cancerpoint review I’ve decided to carry on with reflexology and healing.

I heard about Penny Brohn Cancer Care from a mother of my son’s school friend; she had used some of their services and took me to lunch at the centre after I’d had an operation for ovarian cancer.

I didn’t know what to expect from the charity, I was very suspicious – at hospital they were happy for me to use complementary therapies as long as it wasn’t instead of any conventional treatment.

After an initial appointment at Cancerpoint, the first service I had was counselling; I’d lost both my parents and been diagnosed with cancer within 14 months and the counselling was very helpful.

After the operation I was having trouble with my bladder – the nerves must have been damaged and during one of my reflexology sessions I began to get some feeling back for the first time in 8 months.

The word ‘healing’ worried me and I wasn’t sure what it was claiming to do but I found out it wasn’t actually claiming to heal the cancer but help to relax and balance the body.
I’d been using the Cancerpoint for almost a year and a half and began to use it less and less, then I found out my cancer had come back.

Receiving my second diagnosis was a massive shock – it rocked my confidence in complementary therapies quite a lot because I thought that they would help. I felt cross in general, but nobody knows what would have happened, you can’t really tell.

I’ve continued to use reflexology and healing, about every three weeks at the moment because that fits in with my current chemotherapy schedule. After a therapy session I somehow just feel better, it’s like I feel lighter. And I feel more peaceful altogether. I feel a bit more on a high. It’s funny; I’m one of those people who hate people touching my feet but it’s not like tickling at all!

I did a course on self help techniques, I learnt about progressive relaxation; starting with my feet, and breathing techniques. These are things that I can do in bed if I wake up in the night and something is bothering me. This isn’t something I’ve used every day but whilst I was being re-diagnosed I used it to help me calm down a bit.

I feel like the therapies have been an emotional support, knowing that there’s other people there, who are very nice to you all the time. I’ve recommended the charity to lots of other people who’ve had cancer, though I’m not sure if they’ve taken it up or not.

I know if I stop using Cancerpoint I can always go back, I felt ready to stop before my second diagnosis but now I think I will carry on with reflexology for a while then I’ll start to use a therapist I’ve found locally.

A really significant thing I’ve done since getting cancer is taking up the flute, it’s been sitting in a draw for years but recently I’ve started lessons. I’ve just passed my grade one and I’m now working towards my grade two.