Complementary Therapy Service Case Study
Supporting your wellbeing
Therapy information
Complementary therapy is used alongside conventional treatment.
A 54-year-old woman was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma of the left breast in 2016.
She started chemotherapy in March 2016, which she successfully completed and then underwent a left mastectomy in August 2016, followed by reconstruction. She commenced Arimidex in September 2016, (later changed to Tamoxifen). She completed radiotherapy to the left chest wall in November 2016/ (15 fractions of 40gy)
She started to experience significant pain in her shoulder as well as restricted movement in February 2017. The pain was constant and scoring top marks on pain scores. It was keeping her awake at night. She started some physiotherapy, but this was stopped as the physio felt there was such little movement in the shoulder, she was unable to do physio and it was suggested she came back when movement had been improved.
An examination on June 14th 2017 by the orthopaedic department showed forward flex to 90 degree and abduct to 90 degree but external rotation was 0 and poor internal rotation. Frozen shoulder was diagnosed and hydro-distention injection to be administered followed by physiotherapy again.
At this time the patient was referred in to the complementary therapy service and started receiving Bowen therapy on 8th June 2017
Here the patient was complaining of left shoulder pain, left wrist pain and poor arm/shoulder mobility. Also complaining of lower back pain, stiff neck and unable to lie on tummy due to the shoulder pain.
After just three treatments, the patient reported that the arm, shoulder and wrist were much improved. The patient showed improved movement with a 0 score on wrist pain at this point.
By the end of six treatments the improvement was excellent. The patient no longer required an injection and was discharged from the complementary therapy department with a recommendation for some physiotherapy to release a final bit of tightness at the front of shoulder area and also for Pilates sessions to keep the shoulder free and mobile.
The patient wrote the following comment:
“I feel like you have given me my life back. It is quite remarkable. I am recommending The Bowen technique to everyone. Friends with frozen shoulder, who have had injections, have less mobility than I do. I no longer require the steroid injection.”
I am sleeping well and my bowels are working better without a shadow of doubt this has been helpful.
Treatment relieved lots of chemotherapy side effects, which helped me get through it much easier than without. Although I am still anxious about cancer, having complementary therapy has made the process a lot easier. It’s given me something to look forward to. Thank you Julie.
This has been helpful to me in trying to move forward, and get back to some form of normal.
Pain is a lot better after treatment for a couple of days. The treatments have been very helpful especially with the dizziness.
I wouldn’t have made it through chemo without these treatments – initially on the chemotherapy unit – these treatments have, I believe, improved my general wellbeing in terms of mind and body wellbeing. thank you.
Am sleeping well and my bowels are working better, without a shadow of doubt this has been helpful.
Treatment relieved lots of chemotherapy side effects, which helped me get through it much easier than without. Although I am still anxious about cancer, having complementary therapy has made the process a lot easier. It’s given me something to look forward to. Thank you, Julie.
This has been helpful to me in trying to move forward, and get back to some form of normal.
Pain is a lot better after treatment for a couple of days. These treatments have been very helpful especially with the dizziness.
I wouldn’t have made it through chemo without these treatments – initially on the chemotherapy unit – these treatments have, I believe, improved my general wellbeing in terms of mind and body wellbeing. Thank you.