A ground-breaking study into the work of Katoomba-based Blue Mountains Cancer Help (BMCH) has shown it is enormously successful in relieving symptoms, reducing stress and giving people with cancer a better sense of control over their lives.
BMCH offers complementary services, including massage, yoga, acupuncture, counselling and art therapy, alongside the conventional medical treatments of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Its work was evaluated by researchers from the University of Western Sydney's General Practice Department and a Visiting Fellow at the University of NSW, the first time in Australia such a study has been done of the work of a community-based cancer support organisation.
The team found that those using BMCH services showed significant improvements, both physically and psychologically.
CEO and founder of BMCH, Robyn Yates (pictured), said the results were heartening and she hoped they would help spread the word about the services offered to both people with cancer and their carers.
"It's been the most wonderful opportunity to have a rigorous evaluation process of what we are doing," she said. "My initial reaction is that it will open up the conversation with many other medical professionals who may not have had much experience with the complementary approach and perhaps increase the number of recommendations to people who have been diagnosed with cancer."
BMCH treats people with any kind of cancer from the Mountains and the Penrith area. Each is assessed by a registered nurse before being told about the range of services available.
The study canvassed the views of more than 100 clients of the service. They found that acupuncture helped relieve the nausea of chemotherapy, lymphoedema management helped many with the drainage of fluid build-up that can commonly occur after cancer surgery, and the art therapy group allowed others to talk about painful matters and get support and guidance.
One who had counselling said: "I left unburdened by issues that had been weighing on me." Another said: "Just knowing that you are there, that I can ring at any time and I can speak to someone, is a great comfort."
Nine GPs who were also interviewed believed patients could benefit from BMCH's services.
Mrs Yates said a lot of publicity about cancer reinforced the negative, leaving people "gripped with fear" after diagnosis.
"Then they come here and they meet people who have beaten cancer. They go to a group and talk to people who have survived it. They think, maybe I can survive it too," she said.
The report recommended the findings be used to promote the benefits of such cancer support.
BMCH is a not-for-profit organisation funded through membership fees and donations but mostly through its two op shops - one in Katoomba and the other in Penrith - which had a turnover of $559,000 last financial year.
This finances the tiny staff and subsidises treatments, so clients typically pay $25 for an oncology massage rather than the $60-$90 they might have to pay as a private patient. BMCH delivered 3423 therapies or other services in 2013-14.
The organisation recently received a certificate of commendation from the NSW Parliament, acknowledging its work, the Health Trust set up by Mary and Harry Hammon and Maurice Cooper which funded its establishment, and the many volunteers who keep it going.
