28 C A NCER FIGH T ER S T HR I V E | sUMMER 20 15
C A NCERFIGHTER S THRI V E .COM
in Newnan, Georgia, allowed Karen
to reduce symptoms like nausea and
body aches.
Although several side efects were
virtually nonexistent, Karen still suf-
fered from occasional ankle and knee
pain, headaches and irritability. Mem-
bers of her care team at CTCA
®
sug-
gested acupuncture, a form of ancient
Chinese medicine in which fne, ster-
ile needles are applied to specifc areas
of the body, or acupoints, to stimulate
energy fow, known as chi.
Karen, 52, was initially uncomfort-
able with the idea of acupuncture
because of the use of needles. "I had
written it of as something for people
with a high tolerance for pain," she
says. "But in the waiting areas, several
patients mentioned that acupunc-
ture had given them relief from vari-
ous symptoms like aches and pains."
Karen put her fear aside and
scheduled an appointment with an
acupuncturist at CTCA. To her sur-
prise the treatment was not painful
and led to noticeable improvements.
She enjoyed the time alone in the
room, as peaceful music played in
the background, while the needles
triggered responses in her body.
Karen started walking without pain,
the dull aches in her lower back less-
ened and her headaches became less
frequent. During two of her dozen
appointments, she also experienced
unforgettable emotional releases.
"I felt an overwhelming desire to
cry, and afer that I literally felt lighter
and the world looked brighter," she
says. "I was letting go of the stress and
emotions related to my cancer treat-
ment experience. Afer that happened
I was signifcantly less irritable and
more aware of when I needed to give
myself space to deal with my emo-
tions."
CURRENT RESEARCH,
ANCIENT MODALITY
Te fact that acupuncture is a topic
of conversation in the waiting rooms
at CTCA is refective of a national
trend toward increased interest in this
modality within the medical com-
munity.
According to a 2008 article in
Karen Reynolds
discusses her
treatment with
acupuncturist
Harris Frank.
u