“A trained oncology massage therapist studies cancer and cancer treatments as a large part of their specialized training.”
ONCOLOGY MASSAGE
Oncology massage is an approach to massage therapy based in both compassion and specialized massage treatments to help people manage their experience with cancer.
Scientific literature indicates oncology massage helps improve quality of life. Specific benefits of this massage therapy include improved relaxation, sleep, and immune function along with relieving anxiety, pain, fatigue, and nausea. Oncology massage therapists consult patients to determine where they are in their cancer treatment and then apply a customized massage treatment to comfort, nurture, and support the patient in their process.
The treatments are modified according to the full spectrum of cancer-related issues: the physical, psycho-social, and emotional consequences of cancer. In addition, the person's individual goals are considered, including aspects of their particular disease and any treatment side effects they may be experiencing.
Personal goals for receiving oncology massage can include the desire for a respite -- a relaxing pleasurable experience amid everything that is going on -- relieving nausea or other symptoms such as pain or peripheral neuropathy and helping them get through the remainder of their cancer treatments.