All too often cancer and related treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy are the reality for many people. It is usually a very difficult time both physically and emotionally. Victor, in his 30+ years experience has regularly supported patients as they go through serious illness and intense treatments, including cancer, and as such was excited to recently complete a seminar on Oncology Acupuncture.

Oncology Acupuncture is a treatment aimed at supporting patients through the side effects of cancer and cancer treatments. It has become a promising field of integrative clinical medicine and research in many cancer centres in Australia and USA. as there is increasing demand from cancer patients to manage their symptoms both during and after standard medical treatment (surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy).

The seminar was presented by Dr Oh, who is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) & Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO), as well as being a qualified and registered Chinese medicine practitioner. Some of the topics covered included:

• Cause and symptoms of, as well as current research and clinical approaches to common acute and chronic cancer-related side effects, which can include anxiety and depression, pain, cancer-related fatigue.
• Basic mechanisms and adverse effects of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy and immunotherapy, such as chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, hot flashes, insomnia, chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), and xerostomia.
• When to use Acupuncture and appropriate use of Chinese herbal medicine.