who were given only months to
live, and others glide through
chemotherapy with fewer side
effects, a greater sense of control,
and better clinical outcomes. In
her words, “when you’re faced
with one of the worst diagnoses of
your life, you should use every tool
in your toolbox available to solve
this problem. In our experience
those who take this approach
have the best outcomes.”
In addition to other modalities
of naturopathic medicine, Dr.
Valero believes that cancer
patients can benefit from
compassionate interactions and
physical treatment modalities.
Many patients suffer from muscle
spasms caused by magnesium
depletion as a result of certain
cancer treatments. In these
cases, gentle massage and
movement based therapies can
be very useful in keeping the
body loose and the tissue healthy
and mobile. It is also not unusual
for patients to develop arthritis
from chemotherapy, in which
case physical therapies can be
very relieving and restorative.
Even the gentle pressure from a
massage can cause the release
of endorphins that help mitigate
pain, alleviate anxiety and
increase joy.
In addition to the gentle
application of touch from a
qualified practitioner during
treatment, the value of touch
can also be shared through
compassionate expressions from
family members and friends.
That being said even those with
generally good support may still
feel the absence of touch in their
lives if their family and friends are