Massage activates killer cells
The benefits of massage for these clients include
improved blood circulation, equalized blood
pressure, and help with fatigue and nausea. The
place to start is by consulting with your physician
and your massage therapist. For those who are 2-3
months out from treatment, bodywork that can be used
includes lymph drainage therapies, trigger point
therapy, neuromuscular therapy, myotherapy and
myofascial release, among others. It's better to
wait before receiving deeper work.
While hospitalized, some appropriate techniques
include cranialsacral therapy, polarity therapy,
reiki and Therapeutic Touch. MacDonald said no
matter how severe the cancer treatment's side
effects, a way can always be found to administer
some type of bodywork. According to massage
therapist and former oncology nurse Cheryl Chapman,
while it's important to receive touch from a
qualified practitioner who has worked with cancer
patients before, "Touch is always appropriate --
there isn't anyone who is untouchable."
- Ease cancer-related pain as well as pain related to treatment and muscle tension. Massage may help "take the edge off" of acute pain.
- Help control nausea for those undergoing cancer treatment and some types of bone marrow transplants. A small study suggested that massage helped lower medical costs of managing nausea and vomiting.
- Improve sleep and lessen fatigue, common side effects of cancer and its treatment.
- Ease stress and anxiety. The deeply relaxing effects of massage can help you cope with the emotional stress of having a life-threatening illness.
If you have a family member who is in the advanced stages of cancer, or if you know of a dear friend in this situation, you may be glad to know that massage therapy has been found to be beneficial for their care. This includes the various massage therapy modalities offered by professional massage spas that give reflexology massage therapy, Swedish massage therapy, deep tissue
