Woman Overcomes Breast Cancer and Finds Support at Wilmot's Community, Now Known as "The Village"
In the heart of Rochester, New York, Cheryl Rivers embarked on a transformative journey at Wilmot Cancer Institute's Comprehensive Breast Care at Pluta. Diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, Cheryl found herself at a crossroads, but the institute would prove to be a beacon of hope.
Cheryl's fight against cancer was not just about conventional treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy. She sought solace in the integrative approach offered by the institute, which seamlessly blended the strengths of Eastern and Western medicine.
During her chemotherapy, Cheryl lost her hair, but she embraced her baldness with grace. To manage the side effects, she learned tips and tricks, such as chewing ice for mouth sores and using strong-tasting cough drops for a strange taste. She also received acupuncture treatments at the Pluta Integrative Oncology & Wellness Center, which she believes helped with neuropathy.
Cheryl's journey at Wilmot's center exemplified the benefits of integrating Eastern medicine with Western medicine. The key benefits included symptom relief and quality of life improvement, enhanced therapeutic effects and reduced toxicity, holistic, personalized care, and patient empowerment.
Practices drawn from traditional Eastern medicine, such as qigong and tai chi, were shown to reduce cancer-related symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, and sleep disturbances, thereby improving patients' quality of life alongside conventional cancer treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) methods, including herbal decoctions, were found to suppress tumor growth, modulate immune function, reduce treatment complications, and potentially improve prognosis in breast cancer patients.
Cheryl's experience at Wilmot’s centre likely involved receiving comprehensive breast care that incorporated these integrative methods. She valued this approach, believing it offered a more integrated and personalized therapeutic strategy.
Throughout her treatment, Cheryl faced many challenges, but she remained grateful for the good days. She bought a new outfit for each chemotherapy infusion, focusing on colorful options, and was surprised by her daughter with a special shirt on her last day of chemotherapy.
Cheryl's journey did not end with her treatment. She hopes to go back to being a source of support for others, as many have been for her since her diagnosis. She wants to encourage others to keep up with mammograms and offer reassurance to those feeling afraid.
Cheryl's story is a testament to the power of integrative oncology principles that seek to combine the strengths of both systems for optimized breast cancer care. It is a story of resilience, hope, and the transformative power of medicine.
- Cheryl's fight against breast cancer extended beyond conventional treatments to include an integrative approach offered by Wilmot's Comprehensive Breast Care, which included practices from traditional Eastern medicine.
- The blending of Eastern and Western medicine at Wilmot's center offered Cheryl relief from symptoms, improved her quality of life, and provided a more personalized therapeutic strategy.
- Traditional Chinese medicine methods, such as herbal decoctions, were used in Cheryl's care at Wilmot's, with the potential to suppress tumor growth, modulate immune function, and improve her breast cancer prognosis.
- Post her treatment, Cheryl hoped to give back by offering support and encouragement to others, emphasizing the importance of mammograms and reassuring those feeling scared about medical-conditions like breast cancer.
