Dr Beth DuPree and I

After I completed teaching a Level II course in New York I travelled to Pennyslvania to meet with Dr Beth DuPree, Marcy McCaw PT and staff at the Holy Redeemer Hospital.  Dr Beth DuPree has one of the leading breast cancer centres in America which combines both the wisdom of eastern medicine with state of the art western medical technology.  The clinic has created a wellness centre which has been set up for women and men with breast cancer to receive complimentary treatments to assist them in their healing process.  For further details click here. 

I spent a couple of days assisting with the design and protocol for a research trial into the effects of treatment with the Lympstar Pro to the chest and axilla to patients with breast and chest lymphoedema following cancer treatment.  Teaching Marcy the protocol for treating lymphoedema as well as attending a journal evening gave me the opportunity to meet with oncologists, surgeons and radiologists for the Pennyslvania area.

Marcy McCaw, PT

It is hoped this trial will be cleared by the ethics committee and regulatory systems shortly and will proceed in 2012.

It was a priviledge to meet with Dr DuPree who has moved mountains to bring both medical and complimentary worlds together.  This type of clinic, in my opinion, should be the model for all cancer centres.

 

Visiting Fellowship- Flinders University

In May 2010 I was awarded a visiting fellowship for a research study at Flinders’ University in Adelaide, Australia. It was for a pilot trial to be undertaken at the Department of Surgical Oncology Unit & Lymphedema Assessment Clinic working alongside Professor Neil Pillar. The study was a pilot study of the benefits of 10 treatments of mild frequency vibration, utilising the Lympstar Pro to the chest and axilla to patients with breast and chest lymphoedema following cancer treatment.

The study commenced in November 2010 where 10 patients were recruited with varying degrees of lymphoedema.  A number of measures were taken utilising the following:

  • BIS
  • Perometry
  • Tonometry
  • BP & pulse
  • SRS scale
  • Other comments

Subsequently this data is now being compiled into a paper to be reviewed by Professor Neil Pillar and submitted as an abstract for the next ALA Conference in 2012.

I wish to thank Prof Neil Pillar for this opportunity and experience along with Jan Douglass for her support through the trial process.