Acupuncture and Cancer Survivorship – Recovery, Renewal and Transformation is the first book to focus on the subject of using acupuncture in cancer survivorship. As a guide for practitioners it aims to help acupuncturists to:

• Understand the challenges faced by cancer survivors
• Relate their cancer experience to the principles of traditional 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
• Manage expectations of both patient and practitioner
• Access the research that has been conducted in this field.

Acupuncture can play a vital role in helping the growing number of cancer survivors adjust to life post-treatment, especially in supporting them in coming to terms with how cancer has affected their lives.  This includes managing the physical and emotional after effects of diagnosis and treatment, making healthy lifestyle choices, coping with the fear of recurrence, learning how to manage a chronic condition, and establishing the “new normal” that is the legacy of a cancer diagnosis.

This book will help to bring the acupuncture profession more up-to-date in its understanding of cancer survivorship and related issues.  It includes the stories of survivors; these are presented throughout the book using case studies to which the patients themselves have contributed. The overall objective is to enable acupuncturists to help cancer survivors gain control back over their lives post-treatment, through understanding the specific issues facing survivors and how acupuncture can help them.

Most people think that when a cancer patient finishes treatment, that is the end of the cancer journey.  While many people recover from having cancer and its treatments, others experience physical and emotional issues related to the consequences of their experience. Some of these issues may be ongoing and last for months, or even years, after treatment ends. This book can help acupuncturists understand the issues faced by people living with and beyond cancer and help support them in their process of recovery.