Oncology Massage Therapy
Oncology Massage as Part of Cancer Care
Safe Oncology Therapies for Oncology patients, survivors, in remission and for palliative care.
Oncology massage is a gentle touch that is safe and supportive for those newly diagnosed, in active cancer treatment, recovering, in remission, living with a history of Cancer and that are undergoing comfort or palliative care. Oncology Massage is a comprehensive approach that involves thorough assessment and adjustments made by the massage therapist to standard massage modalities.
Here are some of the reasons or benefits why patients seek Oncology Massage Therapy:
- Improve quality of life
- Reduce anxiety
- Help with the management of pain
- Improve quality of sleep
- Reduce fatigue
- Reduce unpleasant sensation from chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN)
- Increase function in areas affected by scar tissue resulting from surgery and radiation
- Help to cope stress post cancer treatment.
- People need massage therapy during the process of diagnosis, or re-diagnosis.
- Oncology Massage therapy can ease people's experiences at end of life
Massage can make your cancer journey easier...but not just any massage; only Oncology Massage.
ONCOLOGY SERVICES
Customized Oncology Massage
Customized Oncology massage is gentle and focus on comfort and relaxation to help patients get through the stress of cancer treatment as well as provide relief from the many and varied side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. You'll experience many techniques performed on your feet, back, hands, and head meant to soothe and comfort you.
Oncology Massage uses a light/medium pressure that is an extremely relaxing touch in order to safely work with complications of cancer and cancer treatment.
Oncology massage requires therapists to be fully educated in, and pay close attention to, the physical and emotional needs of clients in all stages of cancer. If you develop cording we customize your session too.
Clinical consultation and adaptations to the massage session for someone experiencing cancer or with a history of cancer treatment are critical to providing a safe massage.Breast cancer rehabilitation
Axillary Web Syndrome (cording) treatment
My goal is Improve the quality of life for patients with breast cancer through specialized techniques to reduce swelling, pain, and decrease the cording, facilitating healthy scar formation, and support the body as it heals.
Sessions vary for each patient, using gentle yet targeted massage and stretching, to help patients regain movement in their shoulders and trunk, improve comfort and function following breast reconstruction.
Axillary Web Syndrome (cording) treatment
Your natural reaction to the pain of cording will be to avoid moving the arm and shoulder, which can lead to more tightness in the shoulder and chest area. Using manual therapy, I gently pull the tissue on your outstretched arm, starting in the upper arm and moving down into the forearm. This sometimes causes the cord to snap or break, and you may even hear a popping sound when that happens. It's usually not painful, and it often brings relief by extending your arm's pain-free range of motion.
know that anyone who's had axillary lymph node remove, is at some risk of developing lymphedema, whether or not they've had cording. Session to improve range of motions, reduce pain and the cording are offered.
I offer customised sessions to help reduce swelling and pain, reduce the cording, facilitate healthy scar formation, and support the body as it heals.
Lymphedema Management Phase 2- Maintenance
After any cancer surgery especially if you you had lymph nodes dissected/ removed or radiated you have at risk to develop lymphedema after the first or second year of surgery. Without a functional lymphatic system, the body swells and aches, and we feel sluggish and even sick. It is important to know about lymphedema after cancer surgery and how to prevent develop later stages by taking all the measures you can while in subclinical/stage 0 lymphedema.
Once the swelling of your limb has decreased, after Phase 1 or intensive phase of CDT, it is essential to continue your care to maintain reduction of swelling.
Phase 2 is an ongoing part of lymphedema management in which the patient assumes the responsibility of maintaining and improving the treatment results achieved in Phase 1 through Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) - either self or provided by a Certified Lymphedema Therapist to able to reroute the fluid to a healthy Lymph nodes. We are here to help you in any stage of your journey.
Multiple prepaid sessions are offered at a discounted rates to help you make regular self-care more affordable.
Reiki (Energy Healing)
Reiki's gentle energy is easily adapted to most medical conditions and may be used safely by people of all ages, including pregnant mothers, newborns, surgical patients, oncology patients, the frail, and the elderly, in any situation.
A Reiki session can help ease tension and stress, Balance energy and Chakras, removes blocks, can help support the body to facilitate an environment for healing for those Cancer patients as it enables relaxation on all levels - physical, mental, and emotional.
This treatment is performed laid on a massage table. You will remain fully clothed throughout the session and further covered with a blanket in order to retain a sense of warmth and security throughout the treatment. The practitioner's hands are placed in various (non-invasive) positions on the body and above in the aura level. Chakra balancing is done at the end of the treatment.
Relaxing Foot Reflexology
Reflexology is one of the most popular types of therapy among people living with cancer, survivor. There is some evidence that reflexology can help you.
- Relax and cope with stress and anxiety
- Relieve pain
- Lift your mood and give a feeling of wellbeing
- Sleep problems
- Depression