Oncology Massage
Most of us turn to massage to help relieve stress, or to ease tight muscles after a physical workout.
However, massage is being recognised as a way to improve wellbeing for people with cancer; not as a replacement to medical treatments, but as a way of helping patients cope with their treatment experience. When someone with cancer is in hospital, almost everybody that touches them causes them some discomfort. For people with cancer, many forms of physical contact can be painful, especially if people are only touched during medical treatment.
Oncology massage is very gentle and slow, more so than in other therapeutic massages, and treatment times are often shorter. The therapist focuses on minimising the patients’ discomfort – especially those experiencing radiation, chemotherapy, or those with fragile bones or other physical changes brought on by their medical treatment.
The results of multiple scientific studies into the effects of gentle massage for symptomatic relief for cancer patients are amazing. One study reports the following:
pain reduced by 47.8%,
nausea reduced by 51.4%,
depression by 48.9%
and anxiety reduced by a staggering 59.9%!
Another demonstrates “The immediate massage therapy effects included reduced anxiety, depressed mood, and anger. The longer-term massage effects included reduced depression and hostility, increased urinary dopamine, serotonin values, natural killer cell number and lymphocytes”.
Results like these verify Oncology Massage therapy is effective at relieving many issues associated with cancer treatments including:
pain
fatigue
nausea
anxiety and depression
Oncology massage is effective and safe at all stages of treatment and health and can be safely given to those suffering from or at risk of Lymphoedema.
ReMed’s Massage Therapist Eve Francis has completed specific qualifications in Oncology Massage. Eve gained her OMT Level 4 with the well-respected Oncology Massage Training through placements at the Austin Hospital and Olivia Newton John Cancer and Wellness Centre. In early 2014 she graduated to become one of only 30 Level 4 Oncology Massage Therapists in Australia.
As well as improving physical symptoms, Eve’s Oncology Massage treatments can help rebuild hope, allow you to feel positive about your body, give you a safe, informal space to share your feelings and help you feel whole again.
Each Oncology Massage Session is individually tailored to you based on your current level of health, fatigue and treatment plan. A comprehensive health history will be taken at your initial session and each subsequent session includes ongoing health updates.
You deserve support and relief during this difficult time. Come down to ReMed and experience Oncology Massage Therapy for yourself. With Eve and ReMed, you’re in good hands.
Call us on T: 1300 1REMED to book an appointment for oncology massage.