You may find cancer to be one of life’s most  challenging and stressful experiences ever.  While you may feel overwhelmed, frightened, depressed and  think that no one could possibly understand how you feel, the love and support of family and  friends , along with the competent care of health professionals will help you get through this. A Massage Therapist can be a part of your healthcare team to help with symptom control and anxiety.

Studies have Shown… that Massage Therapy can relieve: pain, stress and anxiety. It can help with symptom control and contribute to improved sleep.* You will want to find a specially trained oncology massage therapist who will consider your emotional and physical condition, to safely give appropriate massage while you are in treatment.

Massage is safe  for nearly    anyone.   Exceptions would be  if your  white blood count is too low, if your platelet count is too low or if you are being treated for a  blood clot.
Your oncology trained massage therapist will evaluate your  current condition when creating a therapy session for you. Modifications for positioning, depth of stroke or length of time will be adapted to your needs of the day.

If you have had lymph nodes removed, especially from your neck, armpits, or groin, please notify your massage therapist. Your massage therapist wants to help you avoid complications resulting from lymph node removal. Also, tell them about surgical sites and medical devices you may have (i.e. ports, drains, pacemakers etc.). If you have had radiation therapy, your massage therapist will need to make adaptations to avoid the radiated area. If radiation was done even months ago, the tissue may still be fragile and need to be protected.

If you have had lymph nodes removed, or have had radiation therapy...

There is a chance you could be at risk for lymphedema.  When lymph nodes are removed, sometimes, for no apparent reason, you may develop  pitting edema (lymphedema) in one region of the body.                                                  

It is also possible to develop a sort of scarring in the lymph vessels  that were connected to the removed nodes. This is sometimes referred to as webbing syndrome and can cause pain with movement of the area. A Certified Lymphedema Therapist can help to reduce the swelling and help you to manage it, with specialized massage, compression garments and exercise. They can also reduce the fibrosis (scarring) of the lymph vessels, reducing pain.

 

When you have finished with your treatments…
Your healing takes time to complete. Surgeries, chemotherapy and/or radiation may leave you feeling tired for some time, even after you have finished your treatments.  Though deep tissue massage may have been helpful prior to your cancer treatments, energy levels as well as other changes in your body can create limitations that need to be considered. Your Oncology Massage Therapist will consider all of these factors when planning your session.

The National Lymphedema Network recommends that only Certified Lymphedema Therapist, trained in classes of at least 135 hours, are qualified to do Complete Decongestive Therapy.