Acupuncture is great for cancer survivors

Acupuncture, as we all know, is an evidence-based, non-pharmacological intervention that can support cancer survivors to deal with the physical, psychological, and social consequences of cancer treatments. It addresses not just the physical symptoms like chronic pain, lymphoedema, hot flushes, and fatigue, but also plays a crucial role in managing emotional distress, such as anxiety, fear, depression, and sadness, that often accompany cancer survivorship. Furthermore, acupuncture has shown remarkable results in improving overall quality of life, helping survivors regain a sense of normalcy and resilience. By enhancing the immune function and promoting mental health, acupuncture supports the holistic recovery of cancer survivors in such a helpful way that many cancer survivors exclaim “acupuncture has given me my life back”.

This course aims to increase acupuncturists’ awareness of the challenges cancer survivors face after cancer treatment, both physically and mentally. It will empower acupuncturists to address these issues using acupuncture and moxibustion, and to develop their own toolbox, regardless of the style(s) of acupuncture they practice.

Beverley de Valois will be happy to guide you. She brings no less than 25 years of experience as a practitioner and researcher in the field of cancer survivorship to this workshop.

The aims of this course are to:

• Increase awareness amongst acupuncture professionals of the issues of cancer survivorship • Inform practitioners about how acupuncture can address the late and long-term consequences of cancer treatment • Empower them to treat cancer survivors, whatever their style of practice and the context of their practice.

After participating in this workshop, attendees should be able to:

• Describe the issues facing people who have completed cancer treatment • Identify the long-term and late consequences of cancer and its treatments • Support cancer survivors to develop resilience and improve long term wellbeing • Address cancer treatment-related trauma and emotional distress • Create their own toolbox of approaches for treating complex presentations • Formulate strategies for treating the physical consequences of cancer treatments, including lymphoedema, menopausal symptoms, chronic pain, and fatigue • Support cancer survivors to navigate the milestones of long-term survivorship.

Course Outline

Day 1

1.5 hours: Introduction to cancer survivorship Understand what cancer survivorship means and the issues that face cancer survivors after cancer treatment finishes.

1.5 hours: Enabling coping and developing resilience Focus on the wider contribution that acupuncture can make to improved long-term health and wellbeing of cancer survivors.

1.5 hours: Trauma and the emotions Explore the importance of addressing underlying trauma and the emotions when working with cancer survivors.

1.5 hours: Addressing complex presentations and developing a toolbox Use simple techniques to address complex presentations and the importance of developing a toolbox to the style of the practitioner.

Day 2

4 hours: Managing specific consequences of cancer treatment Focus on some of the physical consequences of cancer treatment, including cancer-treatment related lymphoedema, hot flushes, pain, and fatigue.

1 hour: Navigating the milestones Examine the long-term issues cancer survivors face 5 and 10 years after cancer treatment ends.

1 hour: Bringing it all together The case study of “Ann” brings together nearly all the issues discussed during the course.

Acupuncture and Cancer Survivorship

In July 2023, Beverley's book Acupuncture and Cancer Survivorship was released by Singing Dragon.

This book has been anticipated by practitioners and acupuncture students alike. Extending beyond the TCM patterns for cancer, this manual will serve as a wonderful resource for acupuncturists working with cancer patients covering all the softer issues that come with this area of work as well as diagnosis and treatment options in acupuncture. It is filled with information gathered over many years by the author, who has a great wealth of experience both as a practitioner and as a researcher. Beverley has brought together years of her unique experience working with cancer survivorship as a Chinese medicine practitioner in this book. It will provide a new generation of practitioners with most valuable support and guidance that is both practical and useful in a clinical setting. --Kim Chan BA (Hons), MA, LicAc, MBAcC Programme Leader for Acupuncture Skills, Chinese Medicine Lecturer and Clinical Supervisor, College of Integrated Chinese Medicine, Reading, Berkshire UK

A valuable resource for practitioners; very informative, clear, written with an intelligent heart. --Margré de Vries, LicAc, BSc (Hons) Acupuncture, Dip Shiatsu DO Acupuncture and Shiatsu practitioner, London UK

Beverley de Valois is the acupuncture authority on cancer survivorship in the UK and West. This ground-breaking book reflects her in-depth knowledge and extensive expertise. --Angela Hicks BSc LicAc FBAcC MRCHM Co-founder and President, College of Integrated Chinese Medicine, Reading, Berkshire UK

Clear, knowledgeable, practical and diverse information .... this is a must for an acupuncturist's book shelf/reference. --Rachel Peckham MSc LicAc FBAcC Acupuncturist. Trustee and trainer, NADA GB, London UK

This beautifully written book has the advantage of coming from the perspective of a highly experienced practitioner-academic. Dr de Valois combines her knowledge of acupuncture in private practice, and experience of working in an integrated healthcare team in the NHS; detailing biomedical and acupuncture approaches to managing the consequences of cancer treatments. --Dr Christine A Barry BA, BSc, PhD Medical Anthropology Senior Research Fellow, Brunel University (retired)

This book is an exciting and important new resource in the evidence-informed practice of acupuncture for supporting cancer survivors. I wish I had had it during my years in a hospital oncology service; this is a large population of patients with deep needs for continuing care that may not be effectively addressed by a system that is set up for crisis management. Dr. de Valois' decades of experience in listening to and caring for these patients are plainly evident, and shine through her careful presentations of what is needed and how we can be of help. --Dr Claudia Citkovitz PhD MS LAC Adjunct Faculty, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Author, Acupressure and Acupuncture During Birth.

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