Acupuncture and Cancer Survivorship

How to handle the challenges faced by cancer survivors

The treatment with Acupuncture can play a vital role in helping the growing number of cancer survivors adjust to life after receiving cancer treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. This includes managing the physical and emotional after-effects of diagnosis and treatment, making healthy lifestyle choices, coping with fear of recurrence, learning how to manage a chronic condition, and establishing the new normal that is the legacy of a cancer diagnosis and its treatments.
As a guide for practitioners, it aims to help acupuncturists to:

• Understand the challenges faced by cancer survivors who have completed treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy)
• Understand the biomedical context of the consequences of cancer treatments
• Relate their patient’s cancer experience to the principles of east Asian medicine
• Treat some specific consequences of cancer treatment
• Work safely with cancer survivors
• Support cancer survivors on an emotional level
• Help patients come to terms with a chronic condition and adjust to the new normal
• Manage expectations of both patient and practitioner
• Access the research that has been conducted in this field.

Here some early press reviews:

Christine A Barry BA, BSc, PhD Medical Anthropology Senior Research Fellow, Brunel University (retired)
This beautifully written book has the advantage of coming from the perspective of a highly experienced practitioner-academic. Dr de Valois combines her knowledge of acupuncture in private practice, and experience of working in an integrated healthcare team in the NHS, detailing biomedical and acupuncture approaches to managing the consequences of cancer treatments.

Maggie Bavington Lic Ac, MSc Chinese Herbal Medicine Acupuncturist and Herbalist
This makes me feel I have the skills to be able to offer something good to cancer survivors. I find the honesty and clarity of Beverley’s writing in sharing her own approach and experiences very empowering

Angela Hicks BSc LicAc FBAcC MRCHM Co-founder and President, College of Integrated Chinese Medicine, Reading, Berkshire UK
Beverley de Valois is the acupuncture authority on cancer survivorship in the UK and West. This ground-breaking book reflects her in-depth knowledge and extensive expertise.

Dr Claudia Citkovitz PhD MS LAC Adjunct Faculty, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Author, Acupressure and Acupuncture During Birth.
This book is an exciting and important new resource in the evidence-informed practice of acupuncture for supporting cancer survivors. I wish I had had it during my years in a hospital oncology service, this is a large population of patients with deep needs for continuing care that may not be effectively addressed by a system that is set up for crisis management. Dr. de Valois’ decades of experience in listening to and caring for these patients are plainly evident, and shine through her careful presentations of what is needed and how we can be of help.
Kim Chan BA (Hons), MA, LicAc, MBAcC Programme Leader for Acupuncture Skills, Chinese Medicine Lecturer and Clinical Supervisor, College of Integrated Chinese Medicine, Reading, Berkshire UK
This book has been anticipated by practitioners and acupuncture students alike. Extending beyond the TCM patterns for cancer, this manual will serve as a wonderful resource for acupuncturists working with cancer patients covering all the softer issues that come with this area of work as well as diagnosis and treatment options in acupuncture. It is filled with information gathered over many years by the author, who has a great wealth of experience both as a practitioner and as a researcher. Beverley has brought together years her unique experience working with cancer survivorship as a Chinese medicine practitioner in this book. It will provide a new generation of practitioners with most valuable support and guidance that is both practical and useful in a clinical setting.

Isobel Cosgrove BA[SS], MA[Oxon]MLitt, FBAcC Acupuncturist and Founder of UK Supervision Network, London, UK
This book will be invaluable for practitioners of course but also for their clients. The book will facilitate the deepening of the therapeutic relationship

Margret de Vries, LicAc, BSc (Hons) Acupuncture, Dip Shiatsu DO Acupuncture and Shiatsu practitioner, London UK
a valuable resource for practitioners, very informative, clear, written with an intelligent heart

Amy Din MSc BSc (Hons) Dip MBAcC Traditional Acupuncturist. Senior Research Assistant, Trial Coordinator, PhD candidate, University of Southampton, UK
This is a wonderfully written book which is easy to digest, balancing Beverley’s research and clinical experience.
Rachel Peckham MSc LicAc FBAcC Acupuncturist. Trustee and trainer, NADA GB, London UK
Clear, knowledgeable, practical and diverse information …. this is a must for an acupuncturist’s book shelf/reference .