A KISS under the mistletoe means so much more than an age-old festive tradition to Anne Green.

This year she hopes it will bring her the Christmas gift of a whole new lease of life.

The survivor of a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer is undertaking a course of mistletoe, or iscador, therapy that should boost her immune system and give her more energy as her body repairs itself after chemotherapy.

"I first found out about the treatment five years ago," explains the 52-year-old from Knightswood.

"I'd had ME before breast cancer, so I had been attending Glasgow Homoeopathic Hospital.

"Once they found out I was going through chemotherapy, my doctor offered me the mistletoe therapy.

"I jumped at the chance: you would try anything because your energy is so low, especially when you're going through chemo.

"Unfortunately, I had to have my ovaries removed so I had to come off the mistletoe treatment because you inject it into your tummy.

"It stimulates your immune system. It has not been proved yet but doctors are finding positive results."

Now recovering from cancer treatment and in remission, Anne resumed the mistletoe treatment two months ago and is hoping to start feeling a difference in the \New Year.

The berries are ground down and Anne injects the liquid twice a week.

"It has been proven that for many people it alleviates pain and I'm in a lot of pain," she winces.

"I have nerve damage doctors think was caused by the chemotherapy. It is very painful at times."

A volunteer at Calman Cancer Support Scotland Centre at Gartnavel hospital, Anne is there to meet visitors who can use the therapy services for people with cancer and their families.

She also has a regular massage in one of the treatment rooms to ease the pain she still suffers.

"Fibromyalgia comes with chronic fatigue syndrome," she says. "I can't sit for too long, I've got to keep moving about. When I wake up in the morning it's worse, it takes me a wee while to get my body motivated to get out of bed. The tiredness is a terrible thing.

"You have to pace yourself; keep in as much a routine as possible, get up at the same time, go to your bed at the same time.

"Sometimes it's really difficult because in the morning I just think, I want to lie in my bed. But you've got to keep some kind of normality in your life.

"That's why I love coming to Cancer Support Scotland because I get a lot of support here."

Before she was diagnosed with cancer, Anne, her husband Alex and their two grown-up sons had busy lives.

She was working as a PA and says she would love to return to work, but no longer has the energy.

"I definitely found an increase in my energy levels when I had the treatment before. I couldn't get out of the house, I was on tamoxifen, the pain was tremendous, it was absolutely dreadful.

"I couldn't walk the length of myself, I couldn't do anything, I couldn't lift anything. After being on the iscador I certainly felt a benefit."

The Calman Cancer Support Centre celebrated its first birthday in October in its current premises, a beautifully converted chapel in the grounds of Gartnavel hospital with dedicated counselling and complementary therapy rooms downstairs.

IN the former chuch hall, visitors can sit on comfy sofas and armchairs under a high whitewashed vaulted ceiling as light streams in through tall stained-glass windows.

The centre that is dedicated to providing emotional and practical support to cancer sufferers and their families receives no Government or NHS funding and relies solely on donations.

More than 2000 people used the services available.

One in three people are affected by cancer but the figures are rising because of early diagnosis and improved drugs and treatments.

It is not a miracle cure for cancer but mistletoe treatment is a complementary medicine that can have an impact on the wellbeing of some patients and their quality of life.