Cancer care massage with Angela

Osteopathy | Southampton | YOU Massage Therapy

 

The Cancer care massage is a specialist service offered by our Senior therapist Angela.


Personally crafted for cancer patients, the Cancer care massage is a slow, gentle treatment.

Specialist oncosmetics oils are used as to protect the lipid barrier and bring some comfort to sensitive skin and those undergoing cancer treatments.

Soft and soothing, it will be tailored to YOU to support your body and mind, during the 45 minutes of the session. If you wish to have a longer session, please let us know by calling or emailing us so this can be discussed with Angela.

Book your 45 mins Cancer care massage with Angela

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Massage Southampton | YOU Massage Therapy

More information about healing treatments at YOU Massage with our previous article on the topic and more information for massage therapy for people with cancer with this great article from the Macmillian website:

macmillian

About massage therapy

Massage is a form of structured or therapeutic touch. This type of complementary therapy is often offered as part of cancer care in cancer centres, hospices, community health services and some GP surgeries. It can be done by specialist massage therapists, physiotherapists, nurses or complementary therapists.

A massage therapist can massage the whole body, or focus on one area such as the hands, face, shoulders or feet. This means you do not always need to remove clothing to have a massage.

How massage therapy can help if I have cancer

There are different types of massage therapy. The type of massage a therapist recommends will depend on why it is being given.

Massage can be used to:

  • relax your mind and body
  • improve your mood
  • relieve tension and pain in muscles or tissue
  • improve circulation.

Some studies of people with cancer suggest that massage therapy may also help reduce anxiety, depression and fatigue.

Manual lymphatic drainage for people with cancer

There is also a type of massage that can improve circulation in the lymphatic system. This is called manual lymphatic drainage. The lymphatic system helps protect us from infection and disease. It drains lymph fluid from the tissues of the body before returning it to the blood. Manual lymphatic drainage encourages lymph to drain out of the affected area and into an area that drains normally.

We have more information about lymphatic drainage for lymphoedema.

Having massage therapy

Massages can be soft and gentle, or more active. Some may be uncomfortable. Cancer doctors and complementary therapists usually advise you to try gentle massage and avoid vigorous, deep tissue massage. Your massage therapist can change the pressure for your comfort.

Massages can last for different lengths of time. During cancer treatment, your cancer doctor may advise you not to have a massage that lasts longer than 20 minutes.

Is it safe to have a massage if I have cancer?

Some people worry that massage could cause cancer cells to spread to other parts of the body. Research has not found any evidence of this happening, but massage therapists will avoid any areas affected by cancer, such as tumour sites or lymph nodes. Talk to your cancer doctor or specialist nurse if you are worried.

If a massage therapist is not sure about where on your body it is safe to massage, they might choose to massage your hands or feet instead. The massage therapist must also be properly trained and qualified to treat people with cancer. They should have some knowledge of cancer and its treatments. They can sometimes teach family members or friends how to do basic massages, so they can support you at home.

During your touch therapy, it is important to avoid massage in certain areas. This includes:

  • areas that are directly over a tumour or any lymph nodes (glands) affected by cancer
  • areas that are bruised or sensitive
  • areas being treated with radiotherapy, during treatment and for a few weeks after it finishes
  • the area around intravenous catheters (such as central lines) and pain relief patches
  • areas affected by blood clots, poor circulation or varicose veins.

It is also important to be particularly gentle if:

If you usually bleed or bruise easily, or if you have cancer in your bones, speak to your cancer doctor before having massage therapy.”

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