Charley Had been Diagnosed with Breast Cancer
Charley (aged 65) called me in a state of shock. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She was a very health conscious lady, into alternative therapies like homeopathy, herbalism and a yoga teacher, she had been doing everything she could to take care of herself and so of course the diagnosis had come as a bit of a shock.
On her first visit she told me she'd had a biopsy and the results show that breast cancer was confirmed. She was now due to have surgery to remove the tumour. As she told me her story I could see that she was still in a state of shock, her voice was halting and her mouth dry. The first remedy to give in a situation like this is Aconite which can reduce shock and restore a more relaxed disposition.
Also, as an aid to healing after surgery, I gave her the following remedies. Arnica initially, which is a great remedy to help with faster recovery from the operation in terms of bruising and physical trauma. Another good remedy at this point could have been Bellis Perennis, which is also good for bruising but more specifically in areas of dense tissue such as the breast or abdominal areas. However, Arnica was given at this early stage and we could use Bellis later if needed.
In addition to this Charley was given Calendula as a homeopathic remedy. This is taken orally as a pill, however, external application of Calendula tincture in a cream would also have been effective. The Calendula would assist with healing of the scar from the surgery and additionally help clear away any possible infection from the wound. She was also taking antibiotics at this point. She was due to finish the antibiotics the following day, so she could start taking these remedies to support the healing process after completion of the antibiotics. Often antibiotics can knock out the action of homeopathic remedies so its not advisable to take them together.
Finally, I gave her Conium which is a remedy for the cancer itself. This should help restore balance and work toward removing the cancer from her body on an energetic level. That is to say, the surgery would remove the actual tumour and the Conium was aimed at the predisposition to having a tumour in the first place.
After the Surgery
I next saw Charley 4 weeks later, after she had had the tumour removed. She said it had been the size of a 50p and they had also removed four lymph nodes from under her arm. Emotionally she had been up and down. Thinking a lot about the cancer and going through periods of feeling angry and frustrated. (All perfectly normal responses to the situation). However, from taking the Arnica her breast was healing very well post operatively, the nurse commented on how quickly her bruising had gone down and asked her what she had done to make this happen!
She was due to have Radiotherapy in a few weeks time so I now gave her Radium Bromide, in homeopathic potency, which can help reduce burning and pain following Radiotherapy and also she was given more Conium.
After this appointment I had a phone call from Charley a week later, saying that she was getting anxious about the upcoming Radiotherapy treatment. I sent her some more Aconite to take when she felt anxious, which subsequently helped her feel calmer.
Feeling More Positive
By the time of her third monthly visit Charley said she had been sleeping better and was feeling more positive about the whole thing. She had already received two Radiotherapy sessions and was due to have another 13 sessions over the coming days. She felt that the Radium Brom was helping and she was not experiencing any burning pain or major discomfort after her Radiotherapy sessions.
I went on to see Charley on a monthly basis for a further three times, all the while supporting the various procedures with remedies. This was continuing with the Conium in increasing doses and supporting with Calendula, Arnica and homeopathic X-ray (similar to the Rad Brom) for Radiotherapy side effects.
Five Months Later
By this time Charley had finished all her treatment including the course of Radiotherapy. Her consultant had told her that her white blood cell count was low. This can often happen as a side effect from Radiotherapy and it means that her immune system is low and she needs to keep away from people who may have anything infectious, such as coughs or colds. (See NHS website for further details) Other than that, she was doing very well physically, but feeling emotional and weepy following the whole episode. Again a perfectly normal response given the situation.
So now Charley was given a constitutional remedy to give her a boost and restore confidence.
This is just what happened, and when I saw her next she said "I feel brilliant". She had started taking vitamin B12 and Floradix (a natural iron and herbal supplement) as she had been a little anaemic. Other than that she was restored to her old self, had signed up for a course in Chakra healing for the summer, and had started singing again, she was feeling creative and energetic.
Conclusion
This case shows how homeopathy can work well alongside conventional treatment to bring about a more holistic and improved healing process. As you can see above, homeopathy can be used to speed up wound healing after surgery, reduce side effects from Radiotherapy and restore a balanced and happy mental and emotional state of life.