New to this - advice, experience please

[LIFE]

Hi,

I've recently completed my VTCT Indian Head Massage course and hope to receive my certificate soon (providing my M69 exam and coursework folder are satisfactory).

I do not intend to use my skills as a full-time job but as an extra skill to use at psychic, village, charity fayres in my leisure time and for friends and family.

At a village fayre this weekend I had a lady approach me for an IHM and I went through my contra-indication list with her. Everything was fine until we got to the last one which was history of cancer. The lady told me she had secondary breast cancer which had spread throughout her upper body into her bones and I, of course, advised her that cancer was unfortunately a contra-indication that I shouldn't treat.

The lady desperately wanted to receive a treatment and was upset that she had been turned down by many people in the past. However, she did not want to push me if I felt uncomfortable treating her. My intellect was telling me no but I felt much empathy for the lady who was understanding of my predicament but my heart and intuition were telling me yes.

Was I wrong to treat her? I feel in my heart it was the right thing, what would you have done?

BTW I omitted the frictioning of the lymph area in the upper back and concentrated more on the relaxing movements. It was only a 10-15 minute taster session.

I also got all clients to sign a contra-indication sheet and this lady signed against where I noted client advised of risk of spreading cancer but still wished to receive treatment. She totally respected what I was saying to her.

I do feel rather nervous of treating people with contra-indications at this early stage and this matter has made me quite anxious about treating others.

Thanks for any feedback.

 

[kwxnpevu]

HI
Firstly welcome to HP, do pop into new members and say hello and introduce yourself.

I would have treated. However I would not have mentioned spreading cancer!....

Its really that simple for me.

T
x

 

[Henrietta Cooke]

Hi Carnelian,

Welcome to the forums.

I would have treated them, too.

You treat the person and NOT their condition - perhaps adapting the treatment to take account of their condition, as you did.

Do not worry and trust your intuition.

 

[yeayea]

Thanks for your replies.

Feeling much better now.

So how would you deal a client with any history of cancer in the upper body.
We were advised by our tutor that cancer was one of the major contra-indications for not treating due to risk of cancerous cells spreading through the lymphatic system.

Which cancer patients would you treat/refuse?.

Grateful for some clarity as I find this rather worrying.

C x

 

[Kenneth C]

Hi Carnelian,

If a person has a condition then they are already living with it. So, someone with cancer already has it within them. If it is going to spread, then it will, with or without help from any therapy given.

The major consideration is the state of the client. If that person is uncomfortable or in pain then the treatment should be adjusted to suit their particular situation at the time of treatment.

Be confident that, by using your intuition and training with great sympathy and understanding for your client and their current situation, you will do no harm and probably benefit them enormously.

 

[The Dork Next Door.]

Hiya
agreeing with Paul, really just treat them as a normal person this will automatically increase there feeling of still being a person and not just an illness.....follow your instinct and dont forget if you are uncomfortable you could always take a post grad course in cancer care...

T
x

 

[Boise StateFan]

I agree with all that is said. I just don't buy it that Indian Head Massage or Massage for that matter can spread cancer - unless you were to apply deep pressure over the site of a tumour.[&:]

A lot of tutors speak from a lack of experience and ignorance I am afraid and I nearly had an argument on just this matter when the tutor said 'massage spreads cancer'. Where is the evidence?

For the record I have worked at two cancer support centres. The patients were referred to the centre by their doctors etc and received enormous benefit from the treatments. I was lucky as I was thrown in at the deep end with a lot of support from knowledgable therapists and just got on with it. Best thing that ever happened to me and I consider very few things to contraindicate massage or reflexology.

Trust to common sense and if you feel unsure then don't treat.

 

[aNNA x]

I agree with everything everyone has said here, and I would have treated someone if I had have been in your position. My tutor really emphasised the fact that IHM is for everybody, whether they don't have any ailments or even if they're dying, you just have to adapt the techniques to suit the person, and it sounds like this is what you did.

Usually, just to be on the safe side it is wise to ask their GP about treatment, just so there isn't a lack of communication and the client's mind is set as ease-doctors almost always say "as long as it make them feel better, it can't harm them". However, in this case this wouldn't be appropriate so be reassured,

You did the right thing!

 

[ppppoisonhaha]

I agree with all above. You've already realised that contra-indications are all relative, but usually taught & often practiced on the cautious side.

Me thinks you'll develop (if not already) into an excellent therapist for going with how you felt in the moment. But it's always adviseable to be able to back it up, but you are covered with them signing a disclaimer anyhow - so no probs.

With someone with advanced (possibly terminal) dis-ease, then the priority is quality of life, rather than trying to extend life. In reality helping to improve quality of life - probably does extend life, but not at the cost of further suffering.

Andrew.

 

[SqueesePexSot]

Hi,

Thanks for all your kind words of support and encouragement.

I feel a lot more confident that I did the right thing.

I'm sure to be bugging you alot more now!!!

Bye for now
Cx

 

[HouppyVop]

Feel free!