1. Preparation for Practice Placements: BSc in Complementary Therapies

2. Palliative Care

3. Improving supportive and palliative care for adults with cancer Cancer service guidance, CSGSP - Issued: March 2004
The NICE clinical guidance on supportive and palliative care (CSG) advises those who develop and deliver cancer services for adults with cancer about what is needed to make sure that patients, and their families and carers, are well informed, cared for and supported.

4. Information should be available free of charge
Improving supportive and palliative care for adults with cancer Cancer service guidance, CSGSP - Issued: March 2004
Key recommendations:
People affected by cancer should be involved in developing cancer services
There should be good communication, and people affected by cancer should be involved in decision making
Information should be available free of charge
People affected by cancer should be offered a range of physical, emotional, spiritual and social support

5. Improving supportive and palliative care for adults with cancer – cont.
There should be services to help people living with the after-effects of cancer manage these for themselves
People with advanced cancer should have access to a range of services to improve their quality of life
There should be support for people dying from cancer
The needs of family and other carers of people with cancer should be met
There should be a trained workforce to provide services
In February 2009 NICE published guidance on advanced breast cancer that complements the cancer service guidance.(NICE 2011)

6. Palliative and Hospice Care
Compassionate care for people facing serious life-threatening illness
Team-orientated approach to expert medical care, pain management, emotional and spiritual support specifically tailored to a patient’s needs and wishes
Support is also provided for the patient’s family

7. CHRONIC CONDITIONS Tense muscles Stress/Anxiety SYMPTOM CYCLE
Difficult emotions
Depression
Fatigue
Pain
Shortness of breath

8. Considerations for treating patients with cancer
Treat as a person NOT an illness
Adapting pressure/no pressure
Bony metastases
Awareness of lymphoedema/ascites
Tumour sites, stomas, surgical sites, wounds
Catheters & picc lines, syringe drivers
Low platelet count

9. “Touching hands are not like pharmaceuticals or scalpels.
They are like flashlights in a darkened room.
The medicine they administer is self-awareness and for many of our painful conditions, this is the aid most urgently needed” (Juhan 2003)

10. Considerations cont. Chemotherapy (CT) Radiotherapy (RT)
Neutropenia (insufficient neutrophils from bone marrow – side effect of CT)
Impaired immune systems
Skin sensitivities, fragility
Infection control
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Cord compression

11. How can aromatherapy help?
Improve well-being and quality of life
Encourage relaxation
Provide emotional support
Reduce psychological distress
Improve sleep patterns
Ease side effects of CT and RT & symptoms such as:
Stress/tension, pain, breathlessness, nausea, fatigue, constipation and diarrhoea
HANDS
UNDER

12. Complementary Therapies and Children with special needs

13. Special Needs Environment
Autism
Epilepsy
Digestion
Impaired mobility
Impaired verbal communication
Inflamed joints
Oedema
Damaged skin
Medication
Selecting oils /Dilution

14. Epilepsy and Aromatherapy
Affects a large proportion of this client group
Some oils may trigger seizures
Calming oils help to reduce onset of anxiety-induced seizures
Unlikely to affect treatment if usual considerations are taken into account

15. Mental Health

16. Mental Health What is Mental Health? Treat as a person NOT an illness
Be aware that client may be on (numerous) medications
May be very talkative
May be reluctant to divulge information
Possibly reluctant to have full body massage
Possibly restless

17. Mental Health cont
Host organisation will have systems in place to assure therapist safety.
Therapist needs to observe these
Work to support client’s needs:
Relaxation
Muscle tension
Self esteem

18. Some useful resources
Juhan D (2003)Job’s Body. A Handbook for Bodywork. Station Hill Press.
Macdonald G (2007) Medicine Hands: Massage Therapy for People with Cancer. 2nd Edition. Findhorn. Findhorn Press
Metzger D (1997) Tree Essays & Pieces 3rd Edition. Berkley. North Atlantic Books.
National Council Palliative Care.
Rothschild B & Rand M (2006)Help for the Helper: Self-care Strategies for Managing Burnout and Stress. England. Norton

19. References
Juhan D (2003)Job’s Body. A Handbook for Bodywork. Station Hill Press.
NICE. (Accessed 03/03/14)