Massage Therapy And Cancer

Combining massage therapy and cancer used to be thought of as a medical no-no. In massage school, I was taught not to give massage to anyone with cancer.

Over the past few years, this opinion has changed. I have read articles in several massage therapy magazines that state it is okay to massage someone with cancer, provided the client's physician okays it first. Always get it in writing from the client's attending physician in order to cover yourself.

There are many people with cancer who receive massage therapy treatments. Massage therapy can relax, comfort them, and soothe their pain.

Many of the clients who have this illness do not talk to their physicians prior to receiving massage treatment. This is not a good thing. Clients should always let their physicians know that they want to get massage treatments if they are being treated for any type of cancer.

Massage therapists should get medical consent from the client's physician prior to massaging a client with this disease. The massage therapist should work with the physician to benefit the client.

This illness can be a great reason to begin massage therapy treatments. If the client already receives them on a regular basis, it is a great reason to continue them or to increase the frequency.

The benefits of massage to clients with cancer are:

Relaxation

Pain reduction

Better sleep patterns

Better circulation

Improved immune functions

Increased lymphocyte and natural killer cell counts

Reduced feelings of anger

Reduction in developing lymphedema

Nausea reduction

Improved skin quality during radiation therapy

Reduced fatigue

Reduced anxiety

Massage is as safe as other activities of daily living. Massage does not treat the disease but it does help to promote the client's quality of life.

The massage therapist needs to be very careful about the amount of pressure used on the client. Only gentle pressure should be used. The intent is to comfort the client, not to release toxins from the cells into the bloodstream.

Light pressure is especially important if the client is currently having chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Both of these treatments reduce platelet count which can allow the client to bruise easily. Also, if this disease has spread to the client's bones, be very careful of the pressure.

Make sure lubricant does not get on the treatment area of clients who are having radiation. (This area is normally marked on the client's body with ink.) Lubricant can interfere with cancer treatment.

If the radiated areas burn or itch the client, the massage therapist can apply a cool, moist towel on the area.

Also, IV lines, catheters, surgical wounds over cancer sites, radiation burns, and known tumor sites should all be avoided during massage. The massage therapist may choose to put the client in the side-lying position for these reasons.

Massage therapy and cancer now go hand in hand. Massage is a viable option for a client with cancer, but the client's attending physician does need to okay massage therapy.

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