ONCOLOGY MASSAGE

“Massage therapy is not contraindicated in cancer patients. Massaging a tumor is, but there is a great deal more to a person than their tumor.”

Bernie Siegel, M.D.

I spent over a decade of my nursing career working with cancer patients. Much as I valued, even loved, that special field of nursing, I was often frustrated by the end of a shift. I rarely felt that I had the time to truly tend to the needs of my patients. My role was a task & time driven one, which did not allow much space for accommodating the more nuanced needs & preferences of my patients. I recognized in myself a need to expand my skill set to be able to offer a more integrative and holistic way of supporting this special patient population. Oncology massage seemed like a natural part of this evolution and progression for me.

What Oncology Massage is

and what it is not

Oncology massage therapy (OMT) is not a unique style, technique, or modality of massage therapy. It is medically informed practice; a knowledge base from which a properly educated practitioner may draw from for assessment and treatment plan for the massage session.
OMT is not “lymphatic drainage,” nor is it “manual lymph drainage therapy.”
These are highly specialized techniques, which should only be utilized by a qualified practitioner. My current training enables me to provide safe & effective massage to clients who have presenting lymphedema, or who may be at risk for developing lymphedema.
My OMT sessions are adjusted to the individual needs of any client who has cancer, or who has a history of cancer. I make adjustments to the pressure, sites/areas addressed, duration, or pace of the massage, taking into consideration the disease process, side effects of treatment, as well as any other emotional, spiritual, and physical concerns.
Massage Therapy does not cure cancer. It is, however, a gentle, noninvasive, therapeutic mode of treatment that can safely act as an adjunct intervention for symptom management. In simpler terms, it can help a client with cancer relax and find relief that can facilitate healing.

Benefits

Physical benefits of massage include

Diminished pain & discomfort
Decreased muscle stiffness
Decreased joint inflammation
Better quality of sleep
Improved GI function, may help with nausea
Optimized blood pressure & blood circulation
Promotion of appropriate lymph flow
Strengthened immune response

Mental benefits include

Lowered stress levels
Improved relaxation
Improved mood
Decreased anxiety & stress
Alleviated depression
Reduced fatigue & increase in energy
Increased feeling of wellness

“When using modalities such as reflexology to offer organ support to medically complex clients, approach the points or zones as a pianist would a note on a piano rather than like a sculptor pounding out a new lump of clay.”