“Chemotherapy can have devastating effects on our appearance and the holistic beauty therapy initiative kick-started by the Aurora Support Service has helped me see the light at the end of the tunnel,” a 50 year-old cancer patient told The Malta Independent on Sunday.

A group of holistic beauty therapists are offering their services free of charge to cancer patients, helping them regain confidence and self-esteem.

The nurse-led Aurora support service at the Oncology Centre is managed by nurses Abigail Camenzuli and Elysia Mercieca, who came up with the idea in June last year.

Mary-Anne Cuschieri was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in May this year and initially underwent treatment at Boffa Hospital until the new cancer hospital – the Oncology Centre – came into service.

She said: “When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I felt numb. It was always at the back of my mind that I would be diagnosed with breast cancer one day, because my aunt died as a result of it when she was 39.

“I felt a lump and had it checked. I was soon operated upon and doctors told me that the operation had been successful.

“I am now undergoing chemotherapy which has not so pleasant side-effects,” she said.

This newsroom could not help but ask if her hair was her own, because it looked quite natural.

“No, it’s a wig,” she said, which prompted the two nurses – Abigail and Elysia – who were also at the interview to say to her: “See how natural your hair looks, you can hardly tell the difference”. This definitely put a smile on the face of Mrs Cuschieri, who could not hold back her tears at one point but was quickly comforted by the two young nurses.

“One of the worst things in this whole saga, however, is that I lost my hair,” said an emotional Mrs Cuschieri, who has a 25-year-old daughter.

“When you lose your hair, you feel you lost a good part of you,” she said. “But now I feel as if I have my own hair, it’s incredible.”

A more positive-looking Mrs Cuschieri said: “I will fight my cancer battle and I am doing so keeping in mind my daughter and husband, both of whom I heavily rely on: they are my strength.”

At first, Mrs Cuschieri recounted: “I thought ‘I won’t make it through this’, but suddenly I thought to myself, ‘what if it were my daughter who was going through this ordeal?’ And from then on I changed my way of thinking.”

 

Holistic beauty therapy sessions

On the subject of the service being offered to patients once a month by a group of holistic beauty therapists at the Oncology Centre, she said: “They spoil us rotten.

“Beauty is the last thing on your mind when you are going through such a tough time. But these beauty sessions help us regain our confidence. I mean, the atmosphere created in a room at the hospital makes you think you are at some beauty clinic.”

On this point, Abigail and Elysia explained that they do their utmost to create an atmosphere to detach it from the hospital environment, using aroma-scented candles associated with beauty salons while also taking the trouble to decorate the room.

 

Patient urges public to conduct regular check-ups

Mrs Cuschieri said: “I urge all of you out there to have regular check-ups to look out for any potential signs of cancer, regardless of whether you have a family history of cancer.

“I realised I had a cyst in my breast only because I do regular check-ups,” she explained.

Research shows that early detection of breast cancer improves survival rate.

 

About Aurora

Aurora started off by giving support to cancer patients and their relatives, preparing them for what was to come.

“The aim of our support service is to answer any queries raised by cancer patients or their relatives and clear up any misconceptions they may have,” said the two nurses.

“We explain things to patients who are about to begin chemotherapy treatment. We go through the actual chemotherapy process with them and also tell them about the side-effects they may experience subsequently,” they explained.

But now they have taken their support to another level and have emerged with the holistic beauty therapy initiative. They have gathered together a group of volunteer beauty therapists to get the initiative off the ground. “We were overwhelmed by the number of therapists who came forward to offer their services free of charge,” said Abigail and Elysia. “They also provide the products they use to patients for nothing,” they said.

 

Patient praises doctors, nurses and new Oncology Centre

Mrs Cuschieri, whose is now looking forward to her chemotherapy sessions coming to an end on 31 October, only had words of praise for the doctors and nurses.

She also said that the new hospital represented a massive leap in quality, compared to the old Boffa Hospital that cancer patients had to use previously. “At least here you can lie on a bed that changes into a couch,” she said. “At the old hospital you could only sit on a chair.

“But one thing’s for sure, the doctors and nurses always give their all, irrespective of whether it was at Boffa or now at the new hospital,” said Mrs Cuschieri.

The 50-year-old sales assistant said that she is also looking forward to returning to work but more than that has offered her moral support to anyone who has to go through the same ordeal that she has been through.

The next free holistic beauty therapy session for cancer patients or those who have just completed their course of chemotherapy will be held on 2 November. Those interested in participating may do so by calling 2545 2486 or 7900 0495 to reserve a place. They can also visit the Aurora Support Services Facebook page, where queries will be answered within minutes, or send an email to [email protected]

 

Migration of oncology services: increased space, modern facilities and latest technology – Chris Fearne

Asked if he feels that the new Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre is providing a much better environment for staff and patients, Dr Fearne said: “We are blessed with dedicated, caring nursing and medical staff who go out of their way to make patients feel loved.

“The morale of a patient – an extremely important element in the recovery of oncology patients – is boosted by the fact that individual patients feel that they matter to our staff.

“The migration of oncology services to Sir Anthony Mamo allows health professionals to work in a more pleasant environment. The increased space, modern facilities and latest technology all compliment the excellent care given by the staff to allow for the best possible outcomes,” Dr Fearne said.