Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Implications of Reflexology Use by Breast Cancer Patients

Breast cancer patients benefit from reflexology use.
Following chemotherapy:
• Following reflexology work, breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy saw a significant decrease in nausea and vomiting and a statistically significant decrease in fatigue.
• A significant decrease in anxiety was demonstrated by breast and lung cancer patients who received one 30-minute reflexology session. A significant decrease in pain was shown for patients with breast cancer following reflexology work.
• Advance-stage breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy saw “... significant improvements (10%) in physical functioning (walking, carrying groceries and climbing stairs) for the reflexology group compared to the control group (p=0.04). Severity of dyspnea was reduced compared to the control group and the LFM group (p=0.02)”
Following surgery:
Reflexology was demonstrated to have a statistically significant and clinically worthwhile effects on quality of life in patients following surgery for early breast carcinoma.
• A statistically significant decrease in anxiety and pain was shown for mastectomy patients who received a 30-minute reflexology session post operatively.
• Breast cancer patients saw an improvement and maintenance effect on the severity and distress of breast sensation following surgery.
During cancer care:
• Breast and lung cancer patients experienced significantly less anxiety following a 30 minute reflexology session with the breast cancer patients showing a significant decrease in pain.

• “The results revealed that the (10-minute reflexology) treatments produced a significant and immediate effect on the (breast cancer, lung cancer, or Hodgkin lymphoma) patients’ perceptions of pain, nausea and relaxation when measured with a visual analog scale.”

• Breast cancer patients saw a significant reduction in the volume of the arm affected by treatment-related lymphodema, a reduction that appeared to be maintained for more than six months. “Participant concerns were significantly reduced and their wellbeing significantly increased.”

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