Breakthrough in Cancer Care

August 1, 2011

Whereas the conventional medical world does not typically promote complementary medical treatments, the two are being successfully integrated at Sha’arei Zedek, Jerusalem’s fastest growing, 500-bed hospital. While the hospital was initially skeptical about the Center’s proposal, now doctors and nurses testify that the therapy treatments have brought a calming effect to everyone on the oncology floors where stress, nervousness, and high blood pressure normally reign.

Patients can enjoy free treatments even as they are receiving their chemotherapy. but once home, they can continue the treatments indefinitely at the Center’s clinic. However, patients are not the only ones who benefit: caregivers, family members, and oncology medical staff are offered therapy as well!  About 200 treatments a month are provided in the hospital, but once home, they can continue the treatments indefinitely at the Center’s clinic.

In cooperation with the hospital, the Center conducted clinical research with 20 breast cancer patients to help find a solution to the numbness they experienced in their hands and feet, a side-effect of strong medication. After a year of reflexology treatments, the feeling in their hands and feet was restored! This was groundbreaking information.

The Center was established in memory of Dr. Yuri Shtern—former Knesset (Parliament) member, founder of the Christian Allies Caucus, and a dear friend of Bridges for Peace—who fought a long, courageous battle with cancer. Only nine months after his death in 2007, his wife Lena, who is a therapist specializing in body-psychotherapy, opened the Center. This year she was honored as one of Jerusalem’s volunteers of the year. Marik Shtern, Yuri’s son, remarks that as a politician, his father cared for people who couldn’t help themselves, and the Center is run with the same spirit.

As Lena walked beside Yuri during his struggle with cancer, it became clear to her “that we had to give another dimension besides conventional treatment.” Though no one claims that complementary medical therapy cures cancer, it considerably alleviates pain, improves chances of recovery, and relieves emotional stress, nausea, insomnia, constipation, and swelling. At the Center, patients find people who understand them, love them, and journey with them through the recovery process.

One breast cancer patient has been coming to the Center for two years. She suffers from arthritic pain, another after-effect of medication. The reflexology treatment she receives allows her to function and, she claims, helps her state of mind as well. Another breast cancer patient suffers from numbness in her feet, but after treatments on Thursdays, she is ecstatic that she can now stand on her feet on Fridays and cook a Shabbat(Sabbath) meal for her family.

Dr. Yuri Shtern All 100 certified therapists volunteer their time and services. The Center trains them to deal specifically with cancer patients and provides group therapy after each two-hour shift. Presently, the Center’s clinic only has two small treatment rooms, limiting them to 600 clients a month, a small number in relation to the thousands in need. They are hoping for a facility with five or six rooms.

Per capita, Israel presently has the highest number of complementary therapists in the world, and the Center’s work is believed to be the first of its kind in the world. We think Dr. Shtern would be blessed indeed to see how his memory is being honored. We hope there’s someone in Jerusalem who would like to donate an apartment to the cause, but any financial assistance is appreciated.

For more information, go to www.yurishtern.org.il/engor call Sari at 972-52-384-7322.

Source: By Charleeda Sprinkle, Assistant Editor