Massage therapy helps patients with side effects of cancer treatments - KWCH

[massage]

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) Sometimes, a massage is the best medicine, including for 15-year-old Brett Meyers, who is battling cancer.

"I got into the hospital about mid-Christmas break," he said.

And for him, the fight isn't always easy.

"With cancer treatments, your stomach hurts all the time," Meyers said.

But despite the seemingly endless rounds of treatments and doctor visits, there is still one thing he looks forward to.

Sheli Sturgeon Lawler is responsible for administering Meyers' favorite treatment: a massage.

"It just feels so good," Meyers said. "It takes your mind off everything."

Via Christi started offering massage therapy at its cancer treatment center in 2002. The hospital offers one free massage to each patient.

"They usually did one, and Brett wanted more because it really relaxes him," Sturgeon Lawler said. "He was having a lot of pain issues...For Brett, we've been fortunate enough that Children's Miracle Network is helping us to provide him with several massages a week to help manage his pain, his anxiety, his sleep.


The massages help patients such as Meyers cope with many of the side effects of cancer treatments and deal with some of the stress.

"It just relaxes you so you don't get overwhelmed by all the doctors that come in and stuff," Meyers said.

For Meyers, it's a gift he's glad to receive.

"The massages are the best thing here, I think," he said. "It's better than the food at least."

Let's block ads! (Why?)