Featured image for an article about oncology massage. Image of woman receiving upper body massage.

Oncology massage is a specialized form of massage therapy tailored to the needs of people living with cancer or undergoing treatment. It uses gentle, adaptive techniques to reduce pain, stress, and fatigue while promoting relaxation and overall well-being. Therapists trained in oncology massage understand how to adjust pressure, positioning, and session length to ensure safety and comfort. This supportive therapy can complement medical care, helping patients feel more at ease both physically and emotionally.

Key Takeaways

  • Oncology massage is specifically adapted to meet the needs of people with cancer, using gentle and safe techniques.
  • It can ease pain, stress, and fatigue, while improving relaxation and overall quality of life.
  • Therapists receive specialized training to adjust pressure, positioning, and session length for each individual’s condition.
  • Massage complements medical treatment, offering supportive care without interfering with oncology protocols.
  • The focus is on comfort and well-being, helping patients feel cared for during a challenging time.

Oncology Massage for Active Cancer Survivors

Massage therapy is increasingly recognized for its effectiveness in alleviating the symptoms associated with cancer and its treatments, offering a soothing and therapeutic experience for those affected. Simultaneously, there’s a notable shift among cancer patients and survivors towards embracing exercise and intentional movement, with many becoming physically active to enhance their health and recovery. This diverse community, known as ‘Active Survivors’, engages in various physical activities, from high-intensity workouts like marathons and CrossFit to more tranquil pursuits such as walking or the simple joy of filling birdfeeders. These Active Survivors are redefining resilience by maintaining, or even increasing, their physical activity levels compared to before their diagnosis as a strategic means to support their treatment and recovery process. The term ‘Active Survivor’ aptly characterizes these individuals who remain unwavering in their commitment to their physical health and well-being despite the challenges of cancer treatment, serving as an inspiration for proactive health management.

Why is there a crossover between activity and cancer, and how does that affect massage therapists? Initially, it questions widely held beliefs that a cancer diagnosis means that cancer patients all need to take it easy and reduce their activity level. But now, with abundant research showing its many benefits for patients, exercise is an integral part of holistic cancer care. Exercise is essential for cancer patients, improving health and extending life expectancy. Supervised resistance exercises enhance muscle strength and aerobic fitness and alleviate cancer-related fatigue. Exercise can also help manage side effects like anxiety and depression, improving overall survival. However, the impact on respiratory muscle function and cancer patients’ functional capacity remains uncertain.

How Exercise Boosts Recovery and Well-Being

Exercise doesn’t necessarily need to be exhausting, and exercise doesn’t worsen cancer-related fatigue in adults. Combined exercise improves quality of life and alleviates neuropathic pain in patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Exercise interventions targeting survivors and their partners simultaneously may increase exercise knowledge, intentions, and outcomes. A care bundle approach, including structured, supervised exercise programs, massage therapy, and health education on home safety measures, has been found to help reduce symptoms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and improve overall quality of life.

Recognizing the significance of exercise in enhancing the health and well-being of cancer patients, respected organizations like the American Cancer Society and the American College of Sports Medicine have advocated for its integration into cancer care. They’ve established guidelines and certification programs to ensure exercise regimens are safe, effective, and personalized. Moreover, as the focus on comprehensive cancer care methods grows, including massage therapy in treatment plans is becoming increasingly vital. Many cancer patients actively seek massage therapy to manage the diverse physical and emotional challenges that accompany their diagnosis, aiming to elevate their overall quality of life.

While participating in physical activities such as running or working out at a local fitness club may be out of reach for many, cancer patients and survivors recognize movement as a metric. Participating in intentional physical activity serves a dual purpose for those individuals: first, it can act as a means of warding off the debilitating effects of their illness, and second, it acts as a therapeutic tool that assists in their recovery. Active Survivors who make a concerted effort to be more active are better able to hold on to their sense of self in the often-chaotic environment of cancer treatment and survivorship. Activity can provide the ability to regain control over their bodies, strengthen their mental fortitude, and can assist in mitigating some of the adverse effects of their treatment. Massage therapy is one method that can be utilized in the management of the complex relationship that exists between athleticism and cancer.

However, Active Survivors may encounter obstacles when seeking the same style of massages, they enjoyed before their diagnosis and treatment. The stimulating deeper tissue focus of their sports massage that they received prior to their diagnosis changed when the word cancer was introduced. Most oncology massage is understood as much lighter, slower strokes, more focused on managing the symptoms of cancer treatment, and however effective and welcomed, may not be the massage the active survivor is seeking. Many exercise programs include a standard disclaimer advising individuals to consult their physician before undertaking strenuous activities. In this context, cancer survivors cannot afford to disregard this advice. Massage therapists must encourage open communication to ensure a coordinated approach, proper understanding between the cancer care team, including oncologists and nurse navigators, and the goal of becoming more physically active.

Key Precautions for Massage Therapists

The health challenges posed by cancer and cancer treatments may not be best met with the sports massage they may have had in the past and anticipate. Cancer patients and survivors present a greater risk of lymphedema with the additional stress and strain of deep tissue techniques, characteristic in many sports massage approaches. In addition, a cancer patient’s immune system may be compromised, so therapists should take extra care to avoid spreading infection by not performing massage during low blood counts or fever. Another difficulty is the potential for painful and brittle bone metastases. Bony metastases (aka “bone mets”) and bone fragility can be symptoms of several chemotherapeutic agents and can appear long after treatment. When working with a patient who has bone metastases, massage therapists should be careful to avoid using any invasive techniques like deep pressure or anything that could be construed as manipulation.

Oncology massage therapists are trained to give specialized massage therapy to people who have cancer or a history of cancer. They know how to meet their needs and how treatments might cause side effects. On the other hand, they might need more training or experience in sports massage. Sports massage therapists know how to use targeted massage therapy to help athletes perform better and recover faster. However, they may not have the skills or knowledge to work with cancer patients and survivors. To bridge this divide, massage therapists must acknowledge the standards set forth by professional organizations such as the Society for Oncology Massage, the Cancer Exercise Training Institute, and the American Massage Therapy Association. These organizations and institutions offer education as authoritative benchmarks of professional guidance in oncology massage, personal training, and sports massage.

Combining Sports and Oncology Massage

As the field of massage therapy grows, it’s clear that oncology and sports massage are both very useful for different types of people. Active cancer patients and athletes who may be diagnosed with cancer are becoming more alike in their needs, so massage therapy needs to become more integrated. This point of intersection lets therapists use a variety of skills to help Active Survivors on their own unique path. Not only is it about treating a condition or improving performance, but also about recognizing a person’s whole experience, where cancer meets athleticism, and providing the appropriate care to support it responsibly.

The experiences of an Active Survivor show not only a change in how that individual thinks about cancer but also a change in how people think about cancer in general. The cancer survivor population is increasing, as are technology and treatments, but all those numbers don’t replace the fact that cancer is intimidating. While participating in physical activities such as running or working out at a local fitness club may be out of reach for many, cancer patients and survivors recognize movement as a metric. While it may appear less strenuous, it may be equal in focus, and as such, they are Active Survivors. Either way and for all shades of grey in between, massage therapy is an essential source of support for these survivors. Massage therapy does more than ease pain, lower stress, and improve fluid movement. It also gives the body a compassionate touch, perhaps reminding the body that it can still feel comfort and relaxation. Active Survivors are painting a clear message: while cancer may play a part in their life, it will never have the power to define it.

About the Author

Christopher is the co-owner of Phoenixville Massage and Bodywork and has been a practicing massage therapist since graduating from the Massage Therapy Institute of Oklahoma in 1996. He has worked in spa, clinical, oncology, and sports massage settings, and is a former instructor and program coordinator at MTIO. An active member of the American Massage Therapy Association since 2003, he has also volunteered with the Massage Therapy Foundation and continues to offer continuing education through Anatriptic Alchemy.

Image of the headshot of author Christopher Deery

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