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In 2004, Dominique, a trained Physiotherapist, patients knew Shiatsu and each patient had
was working as part of a Palliative Care team in already received 3 chemotherapy treatments. All
the hospital service of Saintes in South-West of them had experienced post-chemotherapy
France. During this time, he was also in his final side effects, of which the most frequent were :
year of Shiatsu training. This extract of his study
• physical fatigue
into the effectiveness of Shiatsu in helping
cancer patients overcome side-effects of • nausea
chemotherapy was carried out as part of his • hair loss
final year assessment. • psychological fatigue
Thanks to the open-mindedness of the doctors • vomiting
in his department, he was given the opportunity, • problems with the mouth
very rare in France, of treating existing hospital
• constipation
patients with Shiatsu. Patients were referred by
• skin problems and sensations of tingling.
the doctors of the Department of Oncology,
who also supervised the study. The patients It was during consultations with certain patients
received the Shiatsu free of charge, and the concerning their experience of side-effects that
treatments were carried out as part of the the Oncologist proposed a series of Shiatsu
normal routine of the Department. treatments, as an additional part of their
treatment in hospital.
Chris Atkinson
The first appointment took the form of a
My starting point for this study was an article
general explanation of Shiatsu, an outline of
by Dr. Koster-Vidal which included the
what would happen during the session, and
following:
what possible effects could be expected. The
“I discovered the existence of Shiatsu patient was given a written summary of the
through one of my patients undergoing method, specifying that the Shiatsu sessions
chemotherapy for breast cancer. I was were intended as a complement to the existing
surprised by her general state of health, the medical treatment and in no way a
absence of side effects and the speed of replacement. In addition, the patient was asked
recuperation after her chemotherapy to sign a Form of Consent.
sessions (only one day of tiredness). She
Before each Shiatsu treatment, the patient was
said “ In fact, Doctor, I don’t know if I
asked to evaluate their experience of side-
ought to tell you, but before and after my
effects after chemotherapy. For each specific
chemotherapy, I am having Shiatsu
symptom, the following criteria were noted:
treatments”. Since then, I have had the
oppoprtunity to observe the effects of this • The onset of the symptom, its duration and
discipline on other patients.” intensity, and any other relevant comments.
This prompted me to think about bringing • The intensity of the discomfort was noted
together my study of Shiatsu and my own on a scale of 1 to 10 (0 = no discomfort ;
professional practice in caring for cancer 10 = maximum discomfort).
patients. The Shiatsu sessions took place as soon as
Could Shiatsu be a useful aid in diminishing the possible following the chemotherapy, as this
side-effects of chemotherapy? And if so, how gave the best opportunity for the collection of
could the outcome be evaluated? statistics. Individual case notes were taken and
a synthesis of symptoms was established for
The study was carried out from September
each patient.
2004 to May 2005 with 16 patients in the care
of the Oncology Department of the Hospital of In treatment, two Meridians were frequently
Saintes in Southwest France. None of the found to be significant: Liver and Stomach; the
”
Liver having a clear association with the storage, chemotherapy, vomited 3 times only on the day
The average
distribution and elimination of the toxins after the chemotherapy, after the first Shiatsu
inherent in the chemotherapy, and Stomach treatment. rate of
relating to the preoccupation with nausea and
Another significant improvement was in mouth
vomiting experienced by the patients. Each
problems: patients were quickly able to resume
improvement for
session began with a systematic treatment of
normal eating because of this improvement,
these two meridians, in order to address the the combined
and therefore more quickly recovered from
most distressing aspects of the chemotherapy.
physical fatigue. side-effects of all
This table below shows the rate of improvement
On the other hand, the side-effect least
for each side-effect.
improved was that of hair loss. However, the patients was
“
Generally speaking, almost all the side-effects Shiatsu enabled the patients to find the wearing
were diminished, some more than others, of the refrigerated cap more acceptable, on an
64%.
ranging from 40% to 83% reduction. The emotional level. The distress caused by loss of
average rate of improvement for the combined hair and its relation to the question of self-
side-effects of all the patients was 64%. The acceptance, evolved positively with time.
most significant improvements occurred with
Second least improved was psychological
the very common side-effect of vomiting and
fatigue. It is difficult to measure the extent of
nausea. In one case, a patient who, before
this effect, since there are many factors
Shiatsu, had been vomiting up to 10 times a
involved, even when the general effects of
day for the whole week following the
Shiatsu were appreciated by the patients. Both