Complementary therapies: a patient's choice.

Judith Thwaite discusses the role of complementary therapy in her treatment for non-Hodgkins lymphoma. She was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 1988 and since that time she has tried a number of therapies. A visit to the Bristol Cancer Help Centre changed her outlook on life and the Centre's policy of patient empowerment encouraged her to fulfil an ambition to write. She also visits the Royal Homoeopathic Hospital, London, regularly for massage, shiatsu, acupuncture, and reflexology and relates how these have helped her cope with the disease as well as her sessions of chemotherapy. Throughout her illness she has remained positive and optimistic, determined to use whatever methods that are available to help her.