Massages for Cancer Patients

[furgetabowdit]

Is this a good thing or a bad thing? I have read on the internet and I have asked one of my instructors about giving massages to cancer patients. I know that deep tissue is pretty much out of the question, or at least I have read, but would a basic Swedish massage hurt a cancer patient? I feel like this is somewhat of a calling for me. Can anyone give me some info or shed some light on the subject?

 

[stupid people suck]

Massages for Cancer Patients

You may want to check with your local schools for classes specifically in Oncology Massage...

 

[devan_dev1]

Massages for Cancer Patients

It looks like you are located in North Carolina, so I am not sure how much help this will be. I located the info from Mr. Beinhorn on another forum. The MDAnderson info is general knowledge for me and I know a few people who have been through the course and were very pleased with it. Typically the MDAnderson course is held once a year in the summer.

Below are other resources to use in training and continuing education opportunities. Below is an oncology massage link through "Voice of America". The 2nd link will direct you to full text PDF on the "Role of Massage in Cancer Care" (at bottom of page) as well as other useful abstracts and research on various diagnosed cases.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-02-15-voa46.cfm
http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2006.6049

Also use your browser to search:
S4OM (Summit is April 30-May2, 2010 Northwestern Sciences University)
Memorial Sloan-Kettering (New York) Wendy Miner - Director of Massage
Gayle MacDonald (Portland-published writer-"Medicine Hands" and Massage for the Hospital Patient)Go to "Instructors" on her website for a full list of providers
Tracy Walton (Boston- published writer, researcher) Go to "Resources" on her website for a full list of providers

MDAnderson - An Integrative Approach to Oncology Massage

An Integrative Approach to Oncology Massage
Attendance is limited to licensed massage therapists.
Date/Time
Thursday, July 22, 2010 thru Saturday, July 24, 8:00 am to 5:30 pm each day

Location
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Cancer Prevention Building – 8th Floor, Rooms 5-8
1155 Pressler St
Houston, Texas 77030

Sessions by MD Anderson Cancer Center's Oncology Medical Specialists and Oncology Massage Specialists will be offered in various related topics including:

• The Why & How of Massage for Those Touched by Cancer
• Recent Massage Therapy Research
• Dermatology Issues in Cancer Patients
• Understanding Lymphedema for Massage Therapists
• A Novel New Method for Imaging The Lymphatic System
• Massage Therapy Treatment for Peripheral Neuropathy
• Communicating with Medical Staff
• Palliative Care including End of Life

Registration Information
Postmarked May 28, 2010 June 25, 2010
Licensed Therapist Registration Fee $475.00 $530.00
M. D. Anderson Licensed Therapist $150.00 $200.00


Registration is closed, limit has been reached.
Attendance is limited to 75 participants.

Registration fee includes all course sessions, course syllabus, daily continental breakfast, lunch and light break refreshments.

Refund / Cancellation Policy
The registration fee, minus a $50 administrative handling fee, is refundable if a written request is received on or before Friday, June 25, 2010.
No refunds will be granted after that date.

The request for a registration refund must include the tax identification number of the company or institution if registration was paid by a company or an institutional check.

Although no refunds will be granted after June 25, 2010, you may transfer your registration to a colleague.

For additional information, contact CME/Conference Management at 713-792-2223 or toll free at 866-849-5866.
The Department of CME/Conference Management reserves the right to cancel activities prior to the scheduled date if low enrollment or other circumstances make it necessary. Each registrant will be notified either by mail, e-mail, or at the phone or fax numbers provided on the registration form.

In case of activity cancellation, liability of the Department of CME/Conference Management is limited to the registration fee. CME/Conference Management will refund the full registration fee. The Department of CME/Conference Management reserves the right to limit the number of participants in a program and is not responsible for any expenses incurred by an individual whose registration is not confirmed and for whom space is not available.

General Information

• Supplies: Everything required for the course will be provided. Registrants need not bring massage equipment or related supplies.
• Dress Code: Business casual with comfortable shoes for walking and standing. Scrubs may be worn on the 3rd and final day of the course during practicum time. No jeans, shorts, tank tops or open shoes will be permitted at any time. It is strongly suggested you bring a sweater or jacket, as temperature throughout the campus may fluctuate and personal comfort ranges vary significantly.
• Cell Phones & Pagers are to be turned off or on vibrate during classes and presentations. For the safety of our patients, these items must be turned off when entering patient care areas.
• Parking will be validated one time for each day of the course only as noted herein. On Thursday and Friday at the ACB/Mays Clinic Building Garage, and for Saturday at TMC Garage 2. Valet parking is available on Thursday and Friday on an as-needed basis.See Attachment ‘A’ for specific location details.
• Hotel Accommodations are available throughout the Texas Medical Center in Houston. Additional details are available through the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau web-site at
  http://www.visithoustontexas.com/visitors.

On-Site Course Information

• Check-in at the Course Registration Desk is required for each day of the course between 8:00 and 8:30 am. Continental breakfast will be available during this time period
• Classes and presentations will begin promptly at 8:30 am each day.
• Course Materials: during check-in on Thursday, July 22, 2010, each registrant will receive a packet with course related information, including an ID Badge, which must be worn at all times while on The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center campus. This ID Badge also serves as registrants’ admittance for the remainder of the course and any related activities.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center will accommodate persons with disabilities at this course. If you need special assistance, please contact the Course Registrar via phone at the Special Events Line, 713-563-9689, or via e-mail at [email protected].

 

[Nathan M. Holden]

Massages for Cancer Patients

My aunt has advanced cancer and is not doing very well... But she has been receiving massage regularly and she says it helps to greatly reduce her pain, allowing her to reduce her usage of pain meds. I can't speak to the depth of the massage or the length or the length of the sessions.

When i am done with massage school (haven't even started yet! Haha)I would like to take the course at M.D. Anderson that pueppi listed above. Massage for cancer patients can definitely be trying, but rewarding.

 

[Aubery Drake]

Massages for Cancer Patients

Everyone that I have spoken to about this in my class said they could never do that. It would be too hard on them if they lost a patient/client. I work at a hospital on the critical care floor and the cancer patients we get sometimes are so thankful for everything we do for them. That is one reason why I want to work with them.

 

[Baby]

Massages for Cancer Patients

Thereis a thread on here ssomewhere about massaging cancer patients. Anastasia is the main one I remember as she has had several chemo clients. Maybe you can type her name and chemo to find that thread.

 

[Future?Artist]

Massages for Cancer Patients

Welcome to MassagePlanetL, Jacob, and best wishes for the remainder of your time in massage school!

I don't do oncology massage (my special segment of the population is pregnant women ), but my mother passed away from cancer in 2007. My stepfather said that until it was determined that it had metastasized into her bones, she received regular massages and it helped her pain tremendously. Once the bone cancer was verified, the MT refused (reluctantly) to see her anymore, b/c of the potential risk to my mother's bones (the pressure possibly breaking weak bones).

I say, if you feel called to work with these people, then dive in. I have a special connection with pregnant women (I have 9 children), and signed up for a certification course in prenatal massage literally right out of massage school-- I'd passed the test but didn't have my license in-hand yet. If the M.D. Anderson class is held every July, and you will be finished with school in November, that sounds like perfect timing to me!

 

[Cougar Hunter]

Massages for Cancer Patients

I am about 99.9% sure this is something God has called me to do. I am not sure about the M.D. Anderson class, I googled it and found out it is in Texas I think. It is a long way from North Carolina to Texas. I will just be starting out soon and I know I can't afford a plane ticket and hotel room for the time I will be there. I am pretty sure the school I am attending offers it. And I am sure I will get close to the patients/clients that I will treat, I am that type of person. But as I was reading up on the subject I saw that it could be the "placebo effect." That is where the massages will not work as much as previous massages did. I don't want that to happen. But if it is a calling, then I will do it. I don't want to ignore a calling from God, I might end up in the belly of a whale and I am not a fan of the ocean or salt water.

 

[Demsmierda]

Massages for Cancer Patients

Jacob, I understand that distance is a factor. MD Anderson is in Houston. Perhaps you can start out with the class offered by your school, and increase your knowledge base with other classes (maybe even rom MD Anderson) later on, as you can afford to, after having built your practice some.

AFA that "placebo effect"-- remember that many cancer patients are seeking any sort of relief they can find. Whether "scientifically speaking", the relief they experience through massage is "real", or "imagined", if they EXPERIENCE it, it is REAL. The goal is to improve their quality of life, and whether dying or healing, "feeling better" and "higher quality of life" is what we're after for this population. We can't CURE them, but relief from the pain and stress of their illness will go far toward either helping them to heal up and get better, or if they are at end-of-life, they will feel cared-for, soothed, and perhaps even more ready emotionally to release this physical existence. That is a very important calling, IMO.

 

[Icy]

Massages for Cancer Patients

I don't really think that you can lump everyone together in one category either...Cancer Patients.

Each person is different, the effects of the cancer itself are different, the treatment they receive different, and the effects of treatment varied, each person is at a different seforum.xxxe and their prognosis is different.

I have had many clients who are cancer survivors - breast cancer, thyroid cancer, etc.

I have had a few clients who passed away.
Often the massage itself isn't what these clients want - it is the human touch, the ability to feel like a person again, the companionship, the calmness that comes from energy work, etc.
When a patient is terminal, I think that they deserve to have whatever treatment they choose (as long as there is no danger of harm).
When my terminal patients were no longer able to come see me, I went to see them. I sometimes had to make adjustments - but there are many things that you can do that are safe.
I think it is strange that some people worry about how THEY would feel if their client passed...jeez, how do you think the patient feels...or their family.
I think it felt GREAT that I was able to support someone physically, emotionally, and energetically with their transition.
I felt totally at peace with their passing.
I have had family members thank me and tell me that my visit was one of the few things that their loved ones looked forward to and enjoyed in their last days.

Continuing education is out there...
Keep your eyes open and pursue anything that looks promising.
In the future you can look into your local hospice providers and see if they have any opportunities for you.
LOL - I don't think that you will end up in the belly of a whale! :
If the Universe needs you to do this, the right opportunities and training will become available to you.
Be patient, be open.

 

[Micky]

Massages for Cancer Patients

Jumping up and down on the AGREE button

 

[Vallerie]

Massages for Cancer Patients

Yes, massage can be safely provided for people affected by cancer, and it can improve quality of life during cancer treatment and recovery. However, if you would like to provide massage to cancer patients and survivors, you need to pursue oncology massage training. Education is critical, because you need to know what bodywork adjustments need to be made for the health and safety of your clients.

For example, you need to know what adjustments to make if your client has:
low blood cell counts
bone metastasis
DVT
compromised lymph nodes
lymphedema
neuropathy
chemotherapy
radiation
medical implants

Oncology massage education programs are available all over the country. You can search for programs in your area, or even contact some local MTs who provide this service to find out where they received their oncology massage training.

I wish that all massage students were given basic oncology massage education. I say this because if a client has ever had any lymph nodes compromised (e.g. via biopsy, radiation, chemotherapy, mastectomy, etc.), we are at risk for triggering lymphedema in them, which is a permanent condition with a severe risk of infection. But if we're not asking about lymph nodes during intake, and we don't know what accommodations to make when we discover that someone has had lymph nodes compromised, then we risk causing severe, permanent harm.

 

[Unpalalgarp]

Massages for Cancer Patients

Yes, massage can

I wish that all massage students were given basic oncology massage education. I say this because if a client has ever had any lymph nodes compromised (e.g. via biopsy, radiation, chemotherapy, mastectomy, etc.), we are at risk for triggering lymphedema in them, which is a permanent condition with a severe risk of infection. But if we're not asking about lymph nodes during intake, and we don't know what accommodations to make when we discover that someone has had lymph nodes compromised, then we risk causing severe, permanent harm.

This sounds contrary to what I have read regarding massage for cancer patients. Lymph drainage is considered safe for most conditions such as after surgery and mastectomy. Are you talking about a deep tissue or specific massage for people suffering from compromised lymphatic system?

 

[lilmouseketeer]

Massages for Cancer Patients

I cannot speak to lymph drainage, as I have no training in that modality. The OP asked whether regular Swedish massage was safe, and my response is that adjustments that need to be made to ensure the health and safety of clients who have been affected by cancer. Here is a quote from my oncology massage manual:

Prevention is the best tool against lymphedema.

Cancer treatments place patients at risk for lymphedema forever.

[...]

If your client has had any ONE of the following cancer treatments, their risk of developing lymphedema is 5-10%.

• Lymph node removal (even one)
• Radiation to the lymph node areas
• Chemotherapy
• Old-fashioned radical mastectomy

The risk of developing lymphedema approaches 25% for clients who have had any combination of the above listed treatments.

Lymphedema can develop immediately post-operatively, or weeks, months, and even years later.

A number of bodywork guidelines are then listed for clients at risk for lymphedema.

I did a bit of googling, and found this relevant article: The Progression of Oncology Massage - Difficult Lessons Learned by Gayle MacDonald at the Society for Oncology Massage.

 

[Nirvana on a Green Day]

Massages for Cancer Patients

The massage program at Northwestern Health Sciences University (NWHSU) in Bloomington, MN, has been working closely with a number of local hospitals. Several now have professional MTs on staff, and they primarily work with cancer patients and in palliative care, though they are slowly gaining access to a broader base of patients. Working with patients in a hospital is very different from working in a massage center or private practice. It is rare to be able to do more than 10-15 minutes of work at a time, and often that work is very limited in scope and pressure. Sometimes family members are there, or other hospital staff, and the patient normally stays in their bed with all drips, wires, etc. attached.

If you want to learn more about this type of work, NWHSU has an elective class open to both massage students and professionals:

Fundamentals of Hospital-Based Massage Therapy
Prerequisite: 500 hours of training
This course prepares students for working in a hospital setting. Common conditions, medical devices and unique elements of the hospital environment are addressed. Students will learn infection control practices, body mechanics, and session adaptations to serve medically frail patients. Communication with healthcare providers, patients and staff, along with appropriate boundary issues will be discussed. During the 12-hour clinical rotations at a major teaching hospital, students will receive hands-on experience in the hospital setting working with hospital staff, medical documentation systems, a variety of medical conditions and diverse patient populations. Students may be required to meet certain vaccination requirements established by the hospital. $526.50 class and clinical rotation (31 hours); or $351 (19 hour class only).

As Adrienne already stated, massage can be wonderful for cancer patients, but there is much to learn if you intend to work with them frequently. The book Medicine Hands and other works about oncology massage are great references for understanding the special needs of working with cancer patients undergoing treatment and survivors who have completed treatments but live with the aftermath. NWHSU has an elective course on oncology massage for students and professionals:

Cancer and Massage Therapy
Prerequisite: 500 hours of training
This course will cover cancer-related pathology, treatment side effects, massage contraindications and precautions. The benefits of massage and session adaptations for the patient with cancer are discussed. Students will learn to design a massage treatment plan based on the presentation of the patient; whether in active cancer treatment, in the advanced seforum.xxxes or years later in survivorship. Hands-on work to practice low impact techniques is included. A 12-hour clinical rotation working with patients in active cancer treatment at a major teaching hospital and/or outpatient cancer treatment center will follow.$526.50 class and clinical rotation (31 hours); or $351 (19 hour class only).

One thing I like about the design of these classes is that you can choose to do clinical rotations to gain practical experience related to the course, OR you can just attend classes and learn what you can without them. This design makes it easier for people who have to travel to attend. For more information on these and other NWHSU specialty elective courses, go to: http://www.nwhealth.edu/conted/seminars/fall_mass.html

For information on their massage school curriculum, visit: http://www.nwhealth.edu/massage-school/