The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2006, about 212,900 women in the US will find out they have invasive breast cancer. American women have a 1 in 8 chance of developing this type of cancer at some point in their lives, and approximately 2 million have already received treatment for the disease. Fortunately, breast cancer death rates have dropped dramatically. Early detection, as well as advances in chemotherapy and other treatments, mean that each year there are more and more breast cancer survivors.[i]
As with any cancer, traditional breast cancer treatments can cause their own variety of health problems. Nausea, vomiting, hair loss, and low blood cell counts often appear after chemotherapy and radiation. In a recent study published in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Dr. Michael Hassett of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston found that 16% of breast cancer patients under the age of 64 needed a hospital visit to monitor the side effects of chemotherapy.[ii] Chemotherapy targets all rapidly growing cells, including white blood cells (known as neutrophils), which support the immune system. Neutropenia, which means that white blood cell counts have dropped below normal levels, reduces the immune response to invaders such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi.[iii] Consequently, the most common and serious reason for hospital visits after chemotherapy was high fever from infections. Anemia, resulting from a low red blood cell count, poses additional problems in the form of extreme fatigue.
Anti-nausea medications, blood transfusions, and laboratory-made white blood cell “boosters” are now part of a growing arsenal of coping strategies.[iv] But for women who are conflicted about taking drugs in the first place, these solutions may seem too toxic or even add additional complaints. Neutrophil enhancers, for example, cause temporary bone pain as the marrow rapidly produces more cells. Leigh Leming, 54, a breast cancer survivor whose cancer later returned and metastasized, decided this time she wanted to try something different. Unable to eat due to nausea, she now follows the advice of an Ayurvedic chef. Drink a shot of ginger, lemon juice, and honey before every meal. “It’s the only thing that reduces my food,” explains Leming. You also drink wheatgrass juice to boost your blood counts, because 2 ounces of wheatgrass juice contains nutrients equivalent to 4 pounds of organic produce: “The difference in my energy levels is staggering!”
A patient at St. Luke’s Hospital in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Leming noticed flyers offering Reiki sessions there. Reiki (pronounced “RAY-key”) is an ancient healing energy system rediscovered in the late 19th century by a Japanese monk named Dr. Mikao Usui. The “Rei” means “universal” and the “ki” refers to “life force energy” similar to “Chi” in Chinese healing or “prana” in yoga. Therefore, Reiki means “universal life force energy”, which works on all levels: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. By influencing all of these levels, Reiki is thought to gently but dramatically amplify people’s innate abilities to heal themselves. Reiki can be performed with the hands on or over the body, and even at great distances. Most people notice it as warmth, tingling, or a feeling of deep love and support.
Leming’s friends at St. Luke’s Wellness Center explained that they receive Reiki sessions before chemotherapy to compensate for some of their post-chemotherapy reactions. Other patients noticed a dramatic improvement in pain levels after Reiki treatments. After experiencing some of this pain relief herself – “I actually forget to take my pain pills after a Reiki session” – Leming brought together a group of patients and survivors to learn how to treat themselves with Reiki. Having received an attunement (opening of the body’s natural energy pathways) from a Reiki Master, they can now feel Reiki flowing through their own hands. Although her pain returns, Leming reports an increased sense of calm and peace when dealing with pain, as well as other cancer stressors, such as finances and family relationships.
No formal study in the United States has proven the efficacy of Reiki in treating cancer; however, the Canadian Breast Cancer Research Initiative recently awarded a $ 20,000 grant to Dr. Ahlam Mansour of the University of Saskatchewan School of Nursing. Dr. Mansour will study “the effects of Reiki on anxiety level, physical problems, spiritual well-being, and complete blood counts in patients undergoing their initial CA (chemotherapy).”[v] The June 1997 issue of Cancer Prevention Control shared the preliminary results of a controlled study at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, Canada. Twenty volunteers with chronic pain, including cancer pain, received Reiki treatments from a certified Reiki Level 2 practitioner. Study supervisors used a visual analog scale (VAS) and a Likert scale to measure pain before and after Reiki. . The study found that receiving Reiki greatly improved pain levels.[vi]
Across the United States, hospitals and hospices have begun to value Reiki. In 1997, Nancy Samson, RN, BS, began coordinating a voluntary Reiki program in the radiation oncology ward at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire. Today, the center organizes Reiki Certification Classes and announces a 50% reimbursement of the cost of the class for DHMC employees. [vii] The prestigious California Pacific Medical Center Health and Healing Clinic offers Reiki, along with acupressure, nutritional therapy, and yoga. [viii] Hospices are increasingly offering Reiki to patients as a means of relieving pain and reducing anxiety about the unknown.
Arizona is home to one of the longest relationships between Reiki and traditional cancer treatment. Sally Soderlund, RN (Oncology Support Services Coordinator) directs the Reiki Clinic at Tucson Medical Center (TMC). The Reiki program at TMC began more than 11 years ago in the Cancer Care Unit. Since then, it has also branched out into other areas of the hospital. Reiki practitioners at TMC generally describe Reiki as “healing energy” and work together in teams of two. They emphasize the relaxing and healing qualities of Reiki, rather than delving into metaphysics. Although some patients report spiritual experiences during Reiki sessions, volunteers explain that Reiki is a healing system, not a religion. The success of the TMC clinic continues due to patient requests for repeat sessions, as well as reports from nurses on improved patient mood and cure rate.[ix]
The American Cancer Society considers Reiki a “safe” complementary cancer therapy. Their website acknowledges subjective patient reports of Reiki’s ability to accelerate healing and increase their sense of well-being. Like massage, Reiki induces relaxation, lowers heart rate, and reduces stress levels. Studies indicate that people heal better if they can remain in a state of low stress. However, because massage manipulates tissue, the American Cancer Society recommends avoiding areas near tumors until research shows whether tissue manipulation can spread cancer cells to other parts of the body.[x] Unlike massage, Reiki involves a light touch or no touch – there is no tissue manipulation. The receptors remain clothed while the energy flows up and into your body. For people with multiple tumor sites, Reiki offers the opportunity to harness the healing power of relaxation without contraindications.
[i] American Cancer Society: Caner Reference Information. cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_2_1X_How_many_people_get_breast_cancer_5.asp?sitearea=
[ii] About health and fitness: breastcancer.about.com/
[iii] “How Cancer Can Put You At Risk For A Serious Infection”. Healthmonitor: July-August 2006, p. S3.
[iv] “Beware.” Healthmonitor: July-August 2006, p. S4.
[v] Source: Office of Communications, University of Saskatchewan, Canada, usask.ca/communications/ocn/Apr24/news8.html.
[vi] Source: Olson K, Hanson J, 1997. “Using Reiki to control pain: a preliminary report”. Cancer Prevention Control 1997, June, Vol. 1 (2): pages 108-13.
[vii] Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center: Classes and Events. dhmc.org/dhmc/webpage.cfm?site_id=2&morg_id=0&org_id=1&sec_id=3&gsec_id=3&item_id=3
[viii] CPMC Institute for Health and Healing. cpmc.org/services/ihh/professionals/overview.html
[ix] Rand, William Lee. “Reiki in hospitals”. Reiki News Articles: The International Reiki Training Center. reiki.org/reikinews/reiki_in_hospitals.html
[x] American Cancer Society. “Reiki” and “Massage”. cancer.org/docroot/eto/content/eto_5_3x_massage.asp?sitearea=eto