Do acupuncture, reiki or massages help with the chemo and radiation?

diamond14
diamond14 Member Posts: 6
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hello All,
I am new to this group. I am 33 and was diagnosed with bc in May. It took a while to accept this fact but had to move along. I am in middle of my chemo right now. I wanted to know if reiki and acupuncture help with your chemo and radiation? It is not covered under the insurance and can be expensive, so was wondering that is it worth trying or not?

Thank you,
Faith.

Comments

  • confused123
    confused123 Member Posts: 251
    #2
    Hi Faith,
    I am also 33 yars
    Hi Faith,
    I am also 33 yars old. I had mastectomy in January 2009, finished chemo and started radiation today. I did do reike, my aunt did it for free so I had it a few times. It did not help with side effects but was relaxing and helped with the stress. Different people have different experiences with it I think though. Some places will give you a complimentary session if you are undergoing cancer treatment. They told me that at my oncologist office.
    G

    Kim
  • mimivac
    mimivac Member Posts: 2,143 Member
    #3
    Hi Faith
    I'm 34. I guess we have a little 30's club going here. I did not do either acupuncture or reiki during chemo or rads but I have heard that they can help, especially with nausea. My oncologist even suggested accupuncture. I'm sure there are places where you can get these therapies either free or on a sliding scale. Accupuncture especially is practically standard therapy these days, and a lot of hospitals offer it to their cancer patients.

    To both of you, www.youngsurvival.org is a site for breast cancer survivors who are under 40. Lots of good stuff and discussion there. Hope to see you there.

    Mimi
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    #4
    Welcome, Faith
    We're all here to support and encourage each other.

    Can't specifically answer your question, though.

    Best wishes to you, as you continue your chemo.

    Kind regards, Susan
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #5
    Christmas Girl said:

    Welcome, Faith
    We're all here to support and encourage each other.

    Can't specifically answer your question, though.

    Best wishes to you, as you continue your chemo.

    Kind regards, Susan

    Hi Faith. I have tried
    Hi Faith. I have tried acupuncture, but, it was mainly just to relieve stress. Have you called your insurance company to see if it would cover it? I really didn't like the acupuncture, so, I stopped. I hope you find something that works for you.
  • cats_toy
    cats_toy Member Posts: 1,462 Member
    #6
    Hi Faith
    I am not in my 30's (insert sad face here), but also have not heard about any of those treawtments for chemo. And like someone else already mentioned, I doubt they will be covered by insurance.
    Welcome to the boards and let us know how your treatment is going.

    =^..^=
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #7
    cats_toy said:

    Hi Faith
    I am not in my 30's (insert sad face here), but also have not heard about any of those treawtments for chemo. And like someone else already mentioned, I doubt they will be covered by insurance.
    Welcome to the boards and let us know how your treatment is going.

    =^..^=

    Hey Faith and Welcome! I
    Hey Faith and Welcome! I have massages every now and then, but, it isn't for chemo or anything. It is just for personal "wanting" it. But, keep us posted!
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #8
    mimivac said:

    Hi Faith
    I'm 34. I guess we have a little 30's club going here. I did not do either acupuncture or reiki during chemo or rads but I have heard that they can help, especially with nausea. My oncologist even suggested accupuncture. I'm sure there are places where you can get these therapies either free or on a sliding scale. Accupuncture especially is practically standard therapy these days, and a lot of hospitals offer it to their cancer patients.

    To both of you, www.youngsurvival.org is a site for breast cancer survivors who are under 40. Lots of good stuff and discussion there. Hope to see you there.

    Mimi

    That is a good website Mimi
    That is a good website Mimi for anyone under 40 with bc. Thanks for posting it!
  • beckyracn
    beckyracn Member Posts: 322
    #9
    Hi Faith,
    I used
    Hi Faith,
    I used accupuncture while doing my chemo and radiation and it really helped with the nausea and vomiting. I was not covered by insurance, but I had been with my accupuncturist for many years and he allowed me to pay what I was able to at the time...even let me create a trailing bill that I eventually paid off. He's been wonderful in helping with the after effects of the treatments also.
  • beckyracn
    beckyracn Member Posts: 322
    #10
    Hi Faith,
    I used
    Hi Faith,
    I used accupuncture while doing my chemo and radiation and it really helped with the nausea and vomiting. I was not covered by insurance, but I had been with my accupuncturist for many years and he allowed me to pay what I was able to at the time...even let me create a trailing bill that I eventually paid off. He's been wonderful in helping with the after effects of the treatments also.
  • beckyracn
    beckyracn Member Posts: 322
    #11
    Hi Faith,
    I used
    Hi Faith,
    I used accupuncture while doing my chemo and radiation and it really helped with the nausea and vomiting. I was not covered by insurance, but I had been with my accupuncturist for many years and he allowed me to pay what I was able to at the time...even let me create a trailing bill that I eventually paid off. He's been wonderful in helping with the after effects of the treatments also.
  • diamond14
    diamond14 Member Posts: 6
    #12
    confused123 said:

    Hi Faith,
    I am also 33 yars
    Hi Faith,
    I am also 33 yars old. I had mastectomy in January 2009, finished chemo and started radiation today. I did do reike, my aunt did it for free so I had it a few times. It did not help with side effects but was relaxing and helped with the stress. Different people have different experiences with it I think though. Some places will give you a complimentary session if you are undergoing cancer treatment. They told me that at my oncologist office.
    G

    Kim

    Thanks Kim,

    Thanks Kim,
    All the inputs and talks are very supportive. Radiation is the last part of treatment right? Glad you will be done soon. I will ask my dr and see if they can find something. for me, the main problem is the yucky taste in mouth that lasts for few days :(
    good luck with everything.

    Faith
  • diamond14
    diamond14 Member Posts: 6
    #13
    mimivac said:

    Hi Faith
    I'm 34. I guess we have a little 30's club going here. I did not do either acupuncture or reiki during chemo or rads but I have heard that they can help, especially with nausea. My oncologist even suggested accupuncture. I'm sure there are places where you can get these therapies either free or on a sliding scale. Accupuncture especially is practically standard therapy these days, and a lot of hospitals offer it to their cancer patients.

    To both of you, www.youngsurvival.org is a site for breast cancer survivors who are under 40. Lots of good stuff and discussion there. Hope to see you there.

    Mimi

    Hi Mimi,
    Thanks
    Hi Mimi,
    Thanks for the info. I will search on that site today only. I still can't the fact at times. It is frustrating. When I read from others, it make me feel that at least I am not alone, and there are so many young women who is fighting this fight with all their strength. Hopefully this treatment will be done soon and I will be me, my original self again. I will try to ask my dr about reiki and see how it goes.

    thanks once again and good luck,
    Faith.
  • diamond14
    diamond14 Member Posts: 6
    #14
    Christmas Girl said:

    Welcome, Faith
    We're all here to support and encourage each other.

    Can't specifically answer your question, though.

    Best wishes to you, as you continue your chemo.

    Kind regards, Susan

    Thanks Susan,

    Thanks Susan,
    Support is very essential, it just works like medicine. So, thanks for that.

    Faith.
  • diamond14
    diamond14 Member Posts: 6
    #15
    cats_toy said:

    Hi Faith
    I am not in my 30's (insert sad face here), but also have not heard about any of those treawtments for chemo. And like someone else already mentioned, I doubt they will be covered by insurance.
    Welcome to the boards and let us know how your treatment is going.

    =^..^=

    Thank you for ur message.
    Thank you for ur message. Yes, they are not covered by insurance. I have finished my 3 out of 4 rounds of my AC chemo and will see what dr decides next. I am waiting this to be over soon. Counting days :)

    Have a good day!
    Faith
  • diamond14
    diamond14 Member Posts: 6
    #16
    beckyracn said:

    Hi Faith,
    I used
    Hi Faith,
    I used accupuncture while doing my chemo and radiation and it really helped with the nausea and vomiting. I was not covered by insurance, but I had been with my accupuncturist for many years and he allowed me to pay what I was able to at the time...even let me create a trailing bill that I eventually paid off. He's been wonderful in helping with the after effects of the treatments also.

    Thanks for your input. I
    Thanks for your input. I will try if I can manage at least one session. Hopefully it will work for me too.

    Good day!
    Faith

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