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A Massage Therapist Trained in Safe Practices for Cancer and Massage Can:
Teach relaxation techniques and simple stretches. Provide a calm and soothing atmosphere with compassionate touch within an outpatient treatment setting. Promote and educate the benefits of massage therapy to Physicians and Nurses. http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2007.7176 Teach relaxation techniques giving the patient the skills they need. Patients hear that “everything will be fine and just relax.” They may not know how to quiet the constant thoughts that create stress to the mind and body. Bring a warm blanket, offer food, talk to the spouse, retell a humorous story, give a hug when the news is good, give an extra hug when the reports are disappointing, trade child raising stories, the good and bad ones, help plan that trip when treatment is done, offer positive comments for the transisitions from hair to no hair back to new hair. All of these opportunities to show care and support can be done before, after and even during their massage. Recently I attended the Annieappleseed Integrative Health Fair. Dr. Penny Block from the Block Cancer Center talked about the anxiety and stress that patients feel. I realized that my support role does make a difference in an outpatient cancer center. It was interesting to realize that much of what Dr. Block talked about were the stress and anxiety concerns that I see in my patients very often. My approach is similar to hers from my massage therapist role. I listen, offer comfort and compassionate touch and refer when necessary when they are depressed, fear reoccurrences, worry about finances and job loss, family dynamics, physical pains that are just work related and nothing more. Understanding the risks and precautions for lymphedema, gives the oncology massage therapist the perfect opportunity to educate patients as well as refer to MLD specialists when the situation arises. Sometimes it is something so simple as encouraging the patient to get a referral from their doctor and to make sure it says, lymphedema evaluation and not just a PT evaluation. Help Caregivers help the patient at home with safe massage techniques. Caregivers appreciate the tips they receive about massage so that they can continue the massages for their family members at home. A Massage Therapist trained with safe practices of massage for cancer patients has the knowledge through touch to offer comfort, provide a calm moment, decrease muscle tension, lessen pain, & create a sense of relaxation that encompasses body mind and spirit. Each patient has different positional, pressure or site restrictions and the Massage Therapist must be able to design a safe massage working with these restrictions. Gayle reinforces the importance of precautions and contra-indications for massage during cancer treatment that may include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Within the healthcare setting, she offers many practical ideas. I recommend her course to anyone who wants to work in a hospital or outpatient chemotherapy center. She also teaches the importance of creating a safe massage for a patient with lymphedema or someone at risk for lymphedema. A patient is a person who wants to feel whole during a massage, to enjoy a massage the way they did before their diagnosis of cancer. They don't want a reminder during their massage of all that they are going through, because their arm or leg is being avoided. Gayle teaches how to modify a whole body massage safely for these special clients. Nancy Schmitt, LMT an inspiring and gifted speaker teaches a nationally certified course that includes mind/body/spirit and stress management. She has studied extensively around the world on holistic healing and spirituality. Nancy Schmitt introduces her students to light energy work and the idea of creating a massage experience for the client that needs minimal circulatory effects during treatment for cancer. Her routine affects many sensory levels and creates a complete relaxation experience. Nancy's techniques can be adapted to work well in outpatient setting with remarkable results. Tracy Walton's course tied everything together for me. Tracy has held a private practice in massage therapy since 1990 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She combines this with work in massage education, developing curriculum, writing and teaching nationally on indications and contraindications to massage therapy. She has authored several articles on massage and cancer. Tracy's course helped me to understand the importance of research; how to read research papers, interpret them and hopefully pass that information on in a useful manner. More importantly to me, she gave me the confidence to realize that I have acquired the skills to see each patient as a unique individual and be able to adapt their massage to fit their needs. Gayle MacDonald, Massage For People Living with Cancer Tracy Walton, Caring for Clients With Cancer Nancy Schmitt, Mindful Touch Therapy Any Massage Therapist considering taking on patients that are in treatment for cancer can contribute greatly to their healing process; body, mind and spirit. Often I am asked, "why do I do this work?" The answer is so obvious. It is a feel-good profession, helping people cope with side effects of treatment, give them a time of remembered wellness, allowing them a few moments to breathe well and restore their bodies. Saying that, it is imperative that you don't take the training lightly, reading a cancer and massage article is just the beginning of your journey to understand the ramifications of surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal treatment, radiation treatments and emotional concerns on a person during a treatment time that might last 1 1/2 years. Search out qualified massage therapist training at Society for Oncology Massage Patients should contact your local cancer centers for referrals to oncology massage therapists. When you find a massage therapist, verify their training and ask about the classes they have taken and how long they have been taking care of patients. Ask why is oncology massage different from regular massages? Why does my massage therapist need to be trained in oncology massage, what difference does it make? If you contact your local spas, remember to ask these questions, their training might not be sufficient. Be aware of spas that want to offer specials during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but haven't invested time and money into training their staff for just a few patients that might walk through their doors.
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