How Can Massage Help Someone With Cancer?

Massage has much to offer a person living with cancer by improving many of the side effects of cancer and cancer treatment. Massage can reduce pain, anxiety, and depression. It can bolster the immune system and control nausea. It can also relax, energize and improve sleep.  At a time when many treatments used cause pain and discomfort, massage therapy provides nurturing and restorative touch. Massage can empower a person to provide him or herself with a therapy which is effective, soothing, non-invasive, and has no side effects. Massage therapy can make a significant and positive contribution to the life of a person living with cancer.

Many people wonder whether massage is safe for someone with cancer, or whether a person with cancer is allowed to have massage. Massage therapy is a safe for people with cancer when provided by a trained massage therapist. Modifications can be made to work around the side effects of cancer and cancer treatments in order to provide an effective and safe massage. A qualified massage therapist will do a thorough intake, and collect all necessary information to make sound decisions about a client’s treatment. The therapist will design the treatment based on the medical information and what the client needs or has requested at the time.

Massage does not spread cancer. Old myths speculated that an increase in circulation might spread cancer. Regular daily activities like movement and exercise increase circulation more than a session of massage; physical activity is often encouraged in people with cancer as part of their treatment. Some type of massage or caring touch is always safe for a person living with cancer. Because of its many benefits massage is recommended and frequently used, during and after treatment for cancer, at many hospitals including the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Memorial Sloan-Kettering.

If you are interested in finding out more about oncology massage for yourself or someone you care about, you can find information in the following places.

The Society for Oncology Massage

Integrative Oncology: Massage Therapy

Massage Benefits Women with Breast Cancer

Tracy Walton: Cancer and Massage Therapy

If you have further questions about massage and cancer please feel free to contact me or visit Massage & Cancer FAQs.

Great Massage Therapist: Good Listening Required

In order to be a great massage therapist I need to listen intently.

I need to listen to what you say about your life and your body. When you come for a massage I will ask what has been going on in your life and how your body is feeling.  Do you have any areas that are bothersome, tight, or painful? Do you have issues or areas on which you want me to focus?  People usually do have at least one, if not several, areas of pain, tension, or injury. It is important as a therapist that I pay close attention to what my client is telling me and showing me.  When you are on the table for your massage, I want to make sure I address the issues we have discussed. I am listening.

Don’t fret that I haven’t listened if I work in areas other than the one where you are having an issue (that spot that you pointed to on your body).  In most cases muscles are not tiny spots.  Quite often they cross several joints or areas in the body, and it is helpful to address the whole muscle, its sites of attachment, and surrounding muscles to properly treat the problem. For example, if you tell me you have low back pain, I will probably work on the fronts and backs of your legs as well.  If you tell me you have neck pain, I will probably work on your upper chest along with many other surrounding muscles.

I need to listen to what you say with your body. When I am working, I watch your body language and your breathing.  I don’t want you to hesitate to tell me if something is too intense, but if you do, many times your actions or your breath will give you away. They don’t usually lie, and I try to listen to them attentively. They are my friends (and yours).

I need to listen with my hands to what your muscles and fascia (connective tissue) say. Are they tight, tense, and knotted or are they relaxed, healthy and supple? Do they want to let me in now, or do they need more time to adjust before I work with them? Do they need more attention or is it time for me to move along and visit somewhere new? Is this really where the problem lies, or is it hidden somewhere else? Muscles and fascia have a lot to say!

I need to listen to you and not speak more than is necessary or wanted.  Some clients want to talk about what is going on in their lives during their session.  I listen and respond as much as I feel they would like.  Some clients are totally silent during their session.  I listen and am quiet as well.  Both of these choices are fine, and I try to listen to the best of my ability and give my clients the amount of conversation they are asking for. I love to talk with my clients, but only if and when they want to talk; I follow their lead. I understand how disappointing and aggravating it can be if a massage therapist doesn’t listen to what you say, ignores the areas or issues which you have asked to address, or talks during your session when all you want to do is relax.  I have experienced all these things as a client and I did not enjoy them. So I promise: I will listen and I will, to the best of my ability, do none of these things.

It's the Little Things

In seeing clients over the past few months and introducing them to Maya Abdominal Therapy I have realized something; how easily we become accustomed to things being slightly off, bothersome or not in balance. We dismiss things if they hover below a certain threshold. When we live with something every day or every month, and it is not something too severe then we may adapt to it. But should we?

Clients have come to me to experience Maya Abdominal Therapy and learn self-care, thinking they have have no specific issues to address, only that it will be beneficial to their overall health. Upon talking with them it quickly becomes apparent to both of us how many “small” things are not quite right. Things like menstrual cramps, headaches, occasional reflux, intermittent low back pain, chronic low level neck tension, slight but nagging twinges near the sacrum. (Fortunately for both of us these are usually things that can be improved or eliminated with massage.) It might not be until we are questioned about these "little" things by a health care provider, or when we are touched by their hands upon examination or treatment that we might consider that something is a bit off (or bothersome, or painful, or not quite right). I can’t tell you how many times I have heard, as or after I work on a client, “I didn’t really know how sore (or painful, or tender, or tight) that was until you just touched it.  Now it feels so much better (in balance, normal, relaxed, etc.).” When we live with symptoms, pain or tension every day, every month, or on a regular occasion, we tend to forget what our bodies are supposed to feel like, do or not do.

Think about all those little things.  We might be able to do something about them with massage or Maya Abdominal Therapy.  You might be able to something about them with regular stretching, self-care or better sleep. All those little things can add up to a lot of not feeling so good.  A small amount of pain or tension spread out over time can develop into a bigger or more nagging problem. Sometimes it takes us getting ourselves back into good working order to know how out of whack we were. 

What are those little things to which you aren’t paying enough attention?  I’m sure you can think of some. Think how much better you would feel if they were gone.

My Favorite Things for Massage

I want to share some of my favorite tools for massage with you.  You can use them at home for comfort, relaxation and self-massage, or you can visit me sometime for a massage and try them out. I love them, my clients love them and I hope you will too!

Great music.  Some of this I listen to on my own, some of it you will hear during your massage at my office.  In any case it’s all good music for massage, relaxation and sleep (sometimes during your massage - and yes, that is ok!). My suggestions are Marina Raye, Snatam Kaur, or Lifescapes music (I have several of these which I bought at Target, but their selections seem to change year to year).

Organic essential oils.  I love essential oils for all their healing properties and have used them often in my practice and in my life.  It is difficult to pick my favorites because I use so many different oils depending on the issues I want to address.  I can tell you I run through a bottle of lavender essential oil faster than any other. I buy the big bottle now.  I use it for many things including massage, skin healing and soothing, relaxation, and room freshening/clearing.  I keep a mix of lavender essential oil and jojoba oil ready at all times, and find it especially good for pumping up my regular moisturizers in the fall and winter. I buy my essential oils from Mountain Rose Herbs and have been very happy with them.  Their prices are good and they offer so many goodies that it is hard to choose! They also have wonderful information about oils, essential oils, and herbs on their website and in their blog.

Organic jojoba oil. Good for massage and moisturizing, and because it is really a liquid wax, it will not go bad as oils are prone to do.  I use this on my face combined with my face cream in the colder weather and it does not cause my skin to break out. Nice for use with clients because it is not nut oil, so there is little chance of an allergic reaction, and it washes easily from clothing and sheets (good for you if you do a foot massage before bed).  I buy mine from The Jojoba Company.  I have always been very happy with them and it. They have many great ideas for use of jojoba and recipes on their website if you are interested.

Flannel sheets. Especially in the winter, and on a massage table, what could be cozier? I have purchased mine from different sources and they are all soft and comforting.  Nothing like slipping onto a heated, flannel enrobed massage table to help you relax and distress. Cotton flannel is also great for castor oil packs which are used in Maya Abdominal Therapy.

Herbal warming packs and eye pillows.  You can purchase these from many places, and they are great for warm support, muscle soreness and tired eyes. They can easily be heated in the microwave or cooled in the fridge. I like to support my client’s neck with a wonderfully warm pillow after their neck work, but I also use them at home for muscle aches, tummy aches and cold feet. (Don't worry- not the same ones I use for my clients.)  You can make your own packs or buy them from many different places. 

Self-care massage. OK – this one you can’t buy at a store.  You can learn it from me or any other Arvigo practitioner.  Self-care massage is a great tool for maintaining wellness.  It is wonderful to be empowered and take an active role in improving and maintaining our own health, and self-care massage allows you to do this in an easy way.  I feel much better when facing a problem or issue, knowing that I am not entirely dependent on others for my healing or well-being. Hence why I love self-care and would like to teach it to everyone.

So now you know a few of my favorite things, massage related.  Is there anything you would add to the list for the ultimate massage?  Let me know and I might add it to my list too!

Green Spring Clean Giveaway

Mountain Rose Herbs is running a contest where you can win all the ingredients you need for a naturally clean and aromatic home.  I love their essential oils, teas, and carrier oils.  I don't know about you, but I would love to win these goodies! So what are you waiting for?  Go enter!