This business is for you—the person with a history of cancer; the caregiver of someone with a history of cancer, and the massage therapist trained in oncology massage. It is designed to link those who need or even just want a massage with those who are trained with the critical thinking skills on how to adjust that massage to any specific modifications needed as a consequence of cancer and cancer treatment.
WHY? And a bit of my background.
I’m a massage therapist, and have been trained in oncology massage since 2008. I started working in a hospital in 2009, and found that it was challenging, even in that environment, to be able to practice what I had learned. My supervisor helped to set up oncology massage classes and provide volunteer massage therapists to provide gentle hand and foot massages to folks as they were getting chemotherapy. It was great! Patients loved it; therapists loved it. But the therapists have regular jobs, so the volunteer hours dropped. The patients complained, and we now have staff jobs at the cancer center.
But I thought: what about all those therapists who are trained and no one knows them? And what about all those patients and former patients who want a massage from a specialist, but don’t want to go back to the place they got treated? So– the goal is to help everyone get connected; help get the massage, as a survivor, that is safe and effective for you. Help the massage therapists who are specially trained in Oncology Massage to use their skills and be compensated at a fair rate, not being asked to always be a volunteer.
Why would a cancer patient or survivor need a specially trained massage therapist?
Cancer sucks. But more importantly, cancer treatments are often harsh and create their own set of side-effects. Oncology massage therapists are knowledgeable about cancer and how it spreads, about chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. They learn how to modify your massage if you are in treatment and possibly fatigued or nauseous; if you are stiff or sore from surgery; if you are at risk for lymphedema after a biopsy or surgery or radiation; if you have neuropathy during or post-treatment. Most massage therapists do not have that background and may cause damage or at the very least, significant discomfort for a few days. We think you’ve probably had enough discomfort. Oncology massage is restorative.
How it works:
Fill out the history form and your location, and we will notify the therapist(s) who are closest the you to arrange the massage session. Pay for your first massage, of which most of the money goes to the therapist and part of it to this business to help sustain it.
Most of the therapists work out of an office or clinic space, and a few will visit you at your home or residence.
Thank you for your interest and your confidence in our service.
–Lucy Allen, Oncology Massage Therapist, Instructor, and Owner of Oncology Massage of the Carolinas.