RELAXATION might seem a difficult ask for someone living with cancer but that will not stop a team in Bury.

Complementary therapies on offer at Bury Cancer Support Centre (BCSC) are designed to help lower stress levels in patients as a way of aiding their recovery.

These therapies include massage, aromatherapy, reflexology and Reiki, aimed at lowering the stress-hormone cortisol.

Lynne Marland, who co-founded BCSC in 2003, said: "Christie have done a lot of studies about cortisol and therapies to reduce cortisol levels.

"They compared reflexology to massage and both produced a reduction in cortisol levels.

"It has an indirect effect on the immune system ­— cortisol affects the immune system in the body and you're reducing the levels."

READ MORE: Bury Cancer Support Service filling in the gaps in care

Ms Marland, clinical coordinator, practices a range of therapies at BCSC and explained how reflexology works to help alleviate stress.

She said: "It's done on the hands or feet and it's not massage. It's using pressure points and the theory is these relate to other parts of the body.

"A reflexology treatment would be affecting the whole of the body through just working with the feet. It helps with sleep, relaxation and general wellbeing."

Sarah Howard, a therapist at BCSC, practices Reiki at the Bolton Road centre, helping people to relax and ease their stress. She said it can be a good alternative to massage or reflexology if someone prefers not to be touched.

Mrs Howard said: "It's working with energies. And is placing hands on different parts of the body or can be done hands off."

Mrs Howard suggested sceptics come and try the therapy if they were unsure. She tried it for the first time at the centre and was impressed enough to train in it herself.

She said: "I was surprised how beneficial I found it. When you're relaxed it does stay with you and some people experience different things.

"People come back on a regular basis to continue.

"It's a good option if someone is uncomfortable with have another kind of touch therapy. If people are quite poorly and what to relax, if you feel another kind of physical treatment wouldn't be appropriate."

Many of the therapies can be enhanced with aromatherapy specifically designed for each patient.

  • During the course of 2019 the Bury Times will be looking more into the services offered by Bury Cancer Support Service and the work they do.