Going by the number of calls I have received lately, there still seems to be confusion regarding giving reflexology to someone who is undergoing chemotherapy.
I thought it would be prudent to give my views based on over forty years of reflexology practice on this subject. Many of these years were in a clinical environment. I am not just looking at its use during a chemotherapy programme, but in general cancer care.
Two of the concerns that have been expressed, seem to be that reflexology will help to spread the cancer, and reflexology will prevent the chemotherapy from doing its job.
Both of these in my opinion are unfounded. Why should reflexology spread cancer any more than the act of breathing or doing exercise? How can we know that some of our patients we treat may have cancer without them knowing it, many people do?
Reflexology will not in any way block the effects of chemotherapy that is for sure.
I have treated many hundreds of cancer patients, including two oncologists one of which while he was undergoing heavy chemotherapy.
With all this experience, my views are that reflexology in these cases, properly applied and ‘in tune’ with the patients’ needs, has almost miraculous results in easing the difficulties which people suffer at these times. It should be recognised as standard practice in cancer care.
Tony Porter
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