An Airedale Hospital research manager has completed a major study looking at how acupuncture might be used to help relieve bone pain in cancer patients.

Carole Paley (right) was awarded her PhD after studying part-time for five years at Leeds Metropolitan University.

As part of her studies, she has worked with Manorlands hospice, the Haematology Oncology Day Unit and physiotherapy teams at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust.

Carole, 52, is a qualified physiotherapist and has been practising acupuncture for the past 13 years.

“Acupuncture is accepted now as part of a physio’s toolkit,” she said. “I became more and more interested in it and eventually decided to study the practice further.

“There’s been very little research into treating cancer-induced bone pain with acupuncture, and hopefully my studies will help patients in the future.

“I began to realise that when I was treating patients for cancer – acupuncture was helping their pain, particularly as they were able to sleep better.”