Massage for people living with cancer

For many years, Cancer was thought to be a contraindication to massage for fear of Metastases. Recent research and feedback from physicians have concluded that this is not so. Patients who have Cancer are encouraged by their physicians to exercise and keep moving. Normal everyday muscular/skeletal movement such as walking up and down the stairs and even breathing circulates the blood and lymph around the body far more than a regular massage is able to. New research has shown that the development and spread of cancer cells inside the body has much more to do with genetic causes and not as much with the movement of blood and lymph within the body. However, Deep Tissue Massage, which is known to create an inflammatory response, is contraindicated. Instigating an inflammatory response will affect the Cancer Patient in many ways, one of which is to delay their recovery period. As massage therapists, we work to encourage the body to heal, not to cause harm. Many Cancer patients who receive deep work are often fine during their session but often complain of extreme fatigue and Flu like symptoms for many days afterwards. A massage therapist must be mindful of the extreme stressors that are affecting a Cancer patient's body.

Earlier this year, I was invited By Foothills Boulder Community Hospital to join their team of Massage Therapists at the Center for Integrative Care at the Tebo Caner Center. During my employment there and on an Oncology Massage Education course in Portland, Oregon, I became privileged to learn and attain great knowledge on Cancer symptoms and how the side effects of Chemotherapy, Radiation and Surgery treatments are the source of the pain and discomfort, not always the disease itself.

Therapists trained in oncology massage are knowledgeable in the disease symptoms and side affects of the cancer treatments. Such symptoms are bruising, bone metastases, burns from radiation, bone fragility following radiation, scarring from surgery, risk of lymphoedema following lymph node removal, anemia, fatigue, hand and foot syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, neutropenia, and the risk of DVT. They are able to adapt the pressure, length of a session, positioning, understand the need for a less demanding treatment and educate their patient that the body has a new normal. Other gentle touch techniques, such as acupuncture and Morrell reflex touch, can be used to support the body during and after treatments and especially during chemotherapy infusion, encouraging relaxation and alleviating the anxiety of the intense procedure.

Gentle, Oncology Massage can bring great relief to many physical symptoms such as Insomnia, Pain, Fatigue, Nausea, Neuropathy, and bring calmness or stimulation to the Nervous system. On an emotional level, massage can provide the patient with restoration of confidence, relief of touch deprivation, the space to be and express, without fear or judgment, their feelings through their Cancer Journey and most of all, to be treated as a whole person, body, mind and spirit.

Anyone who wishes to schedule this specific type of massage must get permission from their physician, and additional medical history must be provided. Please feel free to call me on 720 235 9946 or e-mail me with any questions about this type of massage. Any information provided will be strictly confidential.

For further information on the Center for Integrative care at BCH Tebo Cancer Center, follow this link http://www.bch.org/cancer-care-services/integrative-care.aspx

REFERENCES

MacDonald G. Medicine Hands, Massage Therapy for People with Cancer. 2nd Edition Findhorn Press, Forres, Scotland 2007