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Self Help

All the things listed below are adjunctive to any other treatment you may be having, either conventional or alternative. They are NOT treating the cancer state, but may be of great help with your journey with cancer and allow self-empowerment.

There are many homoeopathic remedies and essences readily available that can assist and make things more bearable, for example there are remedies and essences you can take and self prescribe to help with anxiety about a forthcoming appointment, to help the healing after an operation and to reduce the side effects of conventional treatment such as radiotherapy

All homoeopathic remedies and essences can be purchased from Helios Homoeopathic Pharmacy.

 

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Emotions

This is an area often overlooked by conventional treatment, but there is much that can be done.

One of the simplest things you can use is Bach Rescue Remedy . This can help with any situation where you feel nervous, frightened or shocked. Take a few drops directly under your tongue or place a few drops in a small bottle of mineral water and sip constantly whilst sitting in a waiting room or afterwards when digesting any news, diagnosis etc.

Other Bach Flower Essences (more information from www.bachcentre.com)
In each case take a few drops directly under the tongue or a few drops in a bottle of mineral water and sip regularly. For more persistent emotions, take a few drops in a glass of water 2 or 3 times a day for 21 days.

Only some of the essences are listed here. For a full list of all Bach essences and their indications please go to www.bachcentre.com.
   
Mimulus Known fears e.g. fear of pain, fear of dying, fear of cancer.
   
Aspen Unknown fears, perhaps just a sense of foreboding, an uneasy anxiety that something unpleasant or frightening is going to happen. Or at the other end of the spectrum, a real terror, with physical symptoms such as the hair standing on end.
   
Cerato Lack faith in their own judgment. Make decisions easily, but then doubts creep in. Go around asking the opinion and advice of many people, causing them to become confused or doing something that they know in their hearts is not right.
   
Crab Apple Feel dirty or unclean in some way. This is the cleansing essence.
   
Elm Overwhelmed. Often normally confident people, but have become overwhelmed by the burden of information, decisions and / or responsibility.
   
Gentian Discouragement or downheartedness after things go wrong, perhaps after disappointing or unexpected test results. Being knocked back.
   
Gorse Hopelessness and despair. Given up belief and hope. Stronger feelings than Gentian. They may willfully refuse to be encouraged, so certain are they that their case is hopeless. If ill, they may think themselves incurable, and that nothing can be done.
   
Mustard Deep gloom and depression that descends for no apparent reason. People in this state often list all the reasons they have to feel happy and contented, but still everything looks black and hopeless to them.
   
Olive Physical and / or mental exhaustion after great effort or long term illness.
   
Pine Feelings of guilt. Perhaps blame themselves for the illness or for bringing challenges /difficulties to their family and loved ones.
   
Rock Rose A panicky, terror struck fear that makes conscious thought and decision next to impossible.
   
Scleranthus Inability to make decisions. Unable to decide what treatment to accept
   
Star of
Bethlehem
For the after-effects of shock, such as caused by unexpected bad news /diagnosis or any unexpected and unwelcome event.
   
Sweet Chestnut Reached the limits of endurance. They have explored all avenues and see no way out of their difficulties. They feel there is nothing left for them but annihilation and emptiness.
   
Vervain Perfectionists, with a keen sense of justice. Can become fanatical, unable to listen to alternative points of view, and they may put themselves under a great deal of stress because they find it so hard to switch off and relax.
   
Walnut Helps protect against outside influences in general, and against the effects of change in particular. Affected by the opinions of others. Protection against the negative energies found in hospitals, waiting rooms etc.
   
Wild Rose People who have accepted all that life throws at them and have given up the struggle for fulfillment. State of resignation, don't complain anymore, just shrug the shoulders. There's no point trying to change things - and just drift along.
   
White Chestnut Unwanted thoughts and mental arguments that intrude into the mind and stop us concentrating. Thoughts go around and around preventing decisions or sleep.
   
Willow Feel resentment, angry or bitter about the way their lives have gone. Begrudge others happiness and success. Prefer to grumble and full of self-pity.
   
   
   
Homoeopathy (Helios Homoeopathic Pharmacy)

Aconite 200c
(one tablet as needed)
Shock of the diagnosis
Fear of appointments
Fear of dying
   
Triple A (AAA) 30c
Arg-nit / Ambr-gr / Anac)

(One tablet a few hours before appointment and another just before going in)
Nervousness / anxiety about appointments
   
   
   

 

 

 

Radiotherapy

Read about my Radiotherapy Experinence

The radiotherapy programme given for breast cancer usually consists of a minimum of 18 treatments on consecutive days (excluding weekends), but can be much longer. These are usually 15 'normal' treatments and 3 days of boosters, either at the beginning of the 18 days or at the end.

Side effects are generally cumulative and often don't appear until late into the programme and after the programme has finished.

Common side effects include:
Weariness, tiredness, exhaustion.
Skin changes in the area being treated, similar to sunburn eg heat, reddening, mild blisters, irritation, sensitivity, itching.
On rare occasions nausea and vomiting and severe burns with large blisters.

 

The following may be of help to reduce side effects:
(Always speak to your oncologist / radiotherapy nurses if you have any side effects, especially if they are severe or of concern)

Side Effect Self Help
To help counteract the adverse effects of the radiation Homoeopathic Radium-bromide 200c combined with
X-Ray 200c.
One dose before each treatment and one dose after each treatment.

Weariness, Tiredness, Exhaustion

Homoeopathic Phosphorous or Phosphoric-acid 30C. One tablet up to 3 times a day as needed during the programme and continuing afterwards for up to 2 or 3 weeks. Also may be taken if you have very low energy days a long time after completing the radiotherapy programme.

Phosphorous: normally a bubbly, energetic person (like champagne) , but suddenly have no energy to do anything, gone 'flat'.

Phosphoric Acid: Complete lack of energy for anything, even thinking. Don't even have the energy to cry.

Redness of the skin Homoeopathic Belladonna 30c - as needed - one tablet 3 times a day.

Itching / irritation / mild blistering
of the skin
Homoeopathic Uritca Urens 30C - as needed - one tablet 3 times a day.

Severe burn with blisters
(seek medical advise)

Homoeopathic Cantharis 200C - up to one tablet, 3 times a day.

 

Creams / topical applications The hospitals do not like creams being used. They advise the use of a basic cream such as a basic aqueous cream or E45 (from any orthodox pharmacy). What they don't want is a cream that contains metals, such as zinc, nickel or aluminium, as this interferes with the radiation. My oncologist was happy for me to use aloe-vera gel to give relief and I also used creams from Helios Homoeopathic Pharmacy, where the base cream is as basic as possible, with no added artificial chemicals and has no metals. The oncologist asked that I only apply creams after the treatment and not beforehand.

Helios Burns cream applied straight after each treatment and Helios Healing Cream for up to a couple of months to help the skin recover after the programme had finished.

For general soothing: Gel Pads Provided by the hospital: just ask. They are 10cm squares of gel (a bit like bubble wrap), which you put into the fridge to cool down. After the initial shock when placed on the breast. they give the most incredible relief and feel soothing. Can be re-used.
   


 

 

 

Disclaimer: This web site details my personal journey with cancer and the naturopathic programme I followed. It is for interest only and does not make any claims or suggestions about the treatment of cancer for other people. If you have any questions or concerns about your own health, cancer symptoms or treatment, please discuss them with your own GP or health care professionals.

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