Press release posted 10 July 2025
A cancer survivor from Stockport has learned how to do self-acupuncture to help with the debilitating side effects of the aggressive chemotherapy that saved her life.
Stay-at-home mum Paige Nunu, age 31, had stabbing pains and difficulty walking until she was offered acupuncture at Manchester’s internationally acclaimed cancer centre, The Christie.
However, with a new baby, getting to weekly appointments was challenging for Paige, so she became one of the first patients to benefit from self-acupuncture training at The Christie.
Paige, who lives with her partner Deano in Bredbury in Stockport, was working as a marketing consultant when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma in October 2022. She was referred to Dr Kim Linton at The Christie in November and started her treatment before Christmas that year.
As her cancer was Stage 4, Paige was offered an escalating form of chemotherapy. This is where the strength of the drugs increases with each treatment cycle.
After three treatments, Paige was relieved to hear that her Hodgkin lymphoma was in remission, but she completed all 6 rounds of chemotherapy to maximise her survival chances.
Paige is now cancer-free but is still being monitored by The Christie through a blood test once every 4 months. The most recent test in February 2025 was clear.
“After finishing my cancer treatment, I had nerve pain and numbness in my hands and feet, which is one of the side effects of the aggressive chemotherapy," said Paige. "I was getting a sharp stabbing pain in my feet and sometimes was unable to walk.
"I mentioned this at a follow-up appointment at The Christie in September 2023 and was referred to the integrative therapy team for acupuncture. I had this once a week for a couple of months, and it really helped with the pain. The stabbing pains stopped, and I was able to walk properly again.
“But after the acupuncture stopped, I was still experiencing numbness in my hands and feet, so asked to be referred to the team again for more acupuncture. Then, towards the end of last year, my therapist, Eileen Hackman, mentioned she was planning to train some patients to do self-acupuncture and asked if I was interested.
“I am really into holistic health, so I jumped at the chance, particularly as I had recently given birth and had to juggle childcare with my weekly acupuncture appointments at The Christie.
"When Eileen did the acupuncture, it looked so easy, but having tried it on myself, it can be a bit fiddly, and I get frustrated if I don't quite place them correctly and they slip out. I do one limb at a time now, which is more manageable, as I want to build my confidence.
“The self-acupuncture has definitely stopped things getting worse, and I hope that in time, and as I get better at it, the numbness and pain will be less.
"It is great to have been able to take ownership of my future health and wellbeing in this way, and I'm thrilled to have learned a new skill that will hopefully help me deal with any nerve pain in the future. As a new mum, I benefit from the flexibility of being able to do acupuncture at home and not having to travel to the hospital in Withington.
"It's wonderful that The Christie empowers patients and gives them the independence to take control this way. When your cancer treatment stops, sometimes you feel alone, but this is a reminder that The Christie will always be there for me."
Integrative Therapy Health and Wellbeing lead Eileen Hackman believes that The Christie is the only centre offering self-acupuncture sessions for cancer patients, along with group acupuncture and one-to-one sessions with a therapist.
“Research has shown that acupuncture benefits cancer patients physically and psychologically and can help with the impact of their cancer and the side effects of cancer treatment,” said Eileen. “Patients describe it as life-changing and feel it enables them to regain some control. Many feel it makes their treatment and their lives easier to cope with.”
“As a nurse, there is no greater privilege than empowering patients like Paige, who was struggling with the effects of her cancer treatment, to take an active role in her own recovery, health and wellbeing. It's a testament to the true power of integrative therapy and personalised care.”
Acupuncture has been available at The Christie for many years, but with demand growing, Eileen decided to offer self-acupuncture to patients deemed eligible once they have received 6 treatment sessions in the hospital.
A one-hour appointment shows patients how to safely insert and remove the needles under guidance. The training session is tailored to each patient's individual needs and symptoms, and they receive a written guide and access to a video showing how to locate the acupuncture points. Patients then get several follow-up phone calls to check their progress.
“The Christie and its staff have been incredible,” said Paige. “It’s not like most hospitals; it has a special feeling. There is so much positivity, and the staff are so friendly and caring. It's got a family feel, and because I've spent so much time there, it feels like home. For my last appointment, I even brought my ten-month-old daughter in with me.
Paige is now focusing on improving her fitness and overall health and wellbeing, so has just joined a gym.
The self-acupuncture initiative has been funded by the Walk the Walk charity for an initial 12-month period.