May 27th, 2010 • Posted by Angel Baney • Permalink
Massage used to aid Breast Cancer Patients
We make every October breast cancer awareness month but that does not stop us from offering services to alleviate suffering from this illness all year .
Studies of massage for breast cancer patients suggest that massage can decrease stress, anxiety, depression, pain and fatigue. Many health care professionals recognize massage as a useful, noninvasive addition to standard medical treatments.
There is no scientific evidence that massage effectively treats cancer of any kind, or any other disease.
Check here for our Featured Services for breast cancer patients
Chronic Pain: Based on preliminary evidence, massage alone, or in combination with mindfulness-based stress reduction, may benefit patience with chronic pain.*
Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Massage has been used to treat nausea, anxiety and depression in patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy.*
Immune Function: Preliminary evidence suggests massage therapy may preserve (or increase, according to the AMTA) immune function.*
Postoperative Recovery: Various massage approaches have been used after surgery with the aim to improve recovery and decrease pain.*
Stress: Massage was found beneficial in reducing psychological stress levels.*
*according to the American Cancer Society
Please bring written clearance from your Oncologist before receiving any type of massage.
Contraindications for cancer patients:
- low blood platelet count, a common side effect of chemotherapy, which may result in bruising.
- patients that are taking blood-thinning medications such as Warfarin (Coumadin), which may also result in bruising.
Swedish Massage - For cancer patients this massage can assist the body in delivering nutrients and removing waste products from various tissues. It is also said to transform nervous energy into a more steady state.
Shiatsu -Some people with breast cancer may find that Shiatsu helps relieve stress, muscle tightness and certain symptoms of breast cancer and side effects of treatments over the short term.
