Coalition Voice

At the Breast Cancer Coalition, we are dedicated to serving individuals from the point of receiving a breast or gynecologic cancer diagnosis onward. While undergoing (or after completing) treatment, some may explore complementary therapies as an additional layer of support.

A complementary therapy is a treatment or modality that differs from the standard treatment of care and is meant to enhance or accompany this treatment.(1) The Coalition offers programming that encompasses complementary therapies through our Healing Arts Initiative, such as Qi Gong and Tai Chi. We began providing these classes more than two decades ago, and they remain an important part of our supportive programming today.

What follows is a summary of three types of complementary therapies discussed during our August 2025 Evening Education Webinar: Acupuncture, Qi Gong, and Reiki. As a reminder, make sure to speak with your medical provider or oncology team before beginning complementary therapies.

Acupuncture

Renee Nearpass, MSAOM, is the owner of Perinton Family Acupuncture. As a licensed acupuncturist, she works with her patients to create an individualized treatment plan based on their needs or concerns. Renee is a breast cancer survivor and has experienced firsthand the benefits of acupuncture during and after her cancer treatment.

Acupuncture is a component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that originated thousands of years ago. The practice involves the gentle insertion of sterile, very fine single-use needles along the body’s meridian system. This system is a network of pathways or channels that allow for the flow of chi (or energy) throughout the body.(2) 

During cancer treatment, acupuncture may help individuals manage symptoms and side effects such as chemotherapy-induced nausea.(3) It can also be effective with pain management, regulating the nervous system, and promoting relaxation.(4)

As Renee explained, “… Acupuncture is generally safe in clinical settings when it’s done by a licensed acupuncturist and taking into consideration oncology-specific precautions.”

Such precautions include abstaining from acupuncture if an individual’s white blood cell or red blood cell counts are temporarily too low from treatment; avoiding insertion of needles at surgical sites; and avoiding areas impacted by lymphedema. Renee advises that open lines of communication with medical providers are of great importance before starting any complementary therapies.

Qi Gong

As one of the Coalition’s Healing Arts programs, Qi Gong is a complementary therapy that also originates from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Raphaela McCormack is one of our long-time facilitators who graciously provides this modality to our community.

Qi Gong utilizes gentle movements or exercises, elements of meditation, and breathwork to promote wellbeing.(5) As Raphaela described, it is an ancient practice that originated from Chinese farmers who imitated the movements of farm animals. Many movements are based on animals, such as deer, bears, and cranes.

For those in active treatment, benefits of this practice may include improved sleep and reduced fatigue. It may also help with levels of stress and anxiety.⁵ Similar to acupuncture, Qi Gong focuses on the flow of qi (energy) and potential blocks in the body. This practice also believes that emotions are stored (and sometimes trapped) in our organs – through movement, meditation, and breathwork, those emotions may be released to move freely.(6)

To register for upcoming sessions of Qi Gong with Raphaela at the Coalition, email [email protected].

Reiki

As a Japanese practice that focuses on relaxation, Reiki is a complementary therapy that may enhance an individual’s standard cancer treatment. Like acupuncture and Qi Gong, Reiki also prioritizes the balance of energy within the body – “Rei” meaning higher knowledge and “ki” meaning energy or life force.(7) A Reiki practitioner acts as a channel for this energy to flow to the recipient.

Pamela Hawkins is a Reiki Master and founder of The Circle of Spirit in Canandaigua, New York. During the August webinar, she spoke about the importance of simply being with someone in the present moment: “… Having somebody just be with you for an hour … can be a really powerful thing – holding space just for you.”

During cancer treatment and through survivorship, Reiki is an intentional practice that encourages empathy and presence in the physical body. Benefits may include relieving stress, promoting relaxation, and improving wellbeing. The Reiki practitioner’s focus on holding space for an individual may also in itself be meaningful and beneficial.(8)