Frequently Asked Questions

Question:  How much does a session cost?

Answer: 

Rates vary by therapy and duration.  Please call to discuss your condition and required treatment. 

Question:  If I have cancer, why can't I just go to a regular massage therapist?

Answer:  Oncology Massage Therapists are trained to understand the biology of cancer, the treatments, their side effects and the implications for patients and their massage experience.  They are trained to know how to position you on the table, how to work carefully with areas of pain and fragility, devices, tumours, lymph node removal, oedema etc.   More importantly, your body is in a state of flux particularly if it is still managing the effects of surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy which is said to take up to 2 years for the side effects to clear.  

Remedial massage involves deep tissue work that serves among other things, to stimulate the central nervous system.  If the massage creates pain or inflammation this places yet another demand on your immune system.   It may also cause other systems to activate in ways that may not always be beneficial for your wellbeing e.g. directing lymph fluid into compromised lymph node regions,  stretching skin and fascia inappropriately following surgery or radiation treatments.   Some patients have reported feeling quite unwell after a remedial massage; as though they were coming down with the flu, experiencing body aches and pains that required pain medication and a lot of sleep and rest to recover.  

Oncology Massage aims to 'do no harm' and rather than stimulate the tissue will soothe, quieten and calm your mind and body.  Research has shown that the gentle strokes and holds of Oncology Massage invoke a deeper state of relaxation.   In this state, your immune system is free to do more important healing work in support of your cancer treatments including producing those all important fighter cells needed to eradicate or prevent cancer cells.

Oncology Massage therapists with advanced levels of training, are still able to address a range of physical issues such as cording, neck and shoulder pain and back pain but do so very gently and without using highly stimulating or penetrating techniques. 

Massage therapists who are not trained in Oncology Massage should not knowingly massage cancer patients.   By not disclosing that you have cancer you not only potentially undermine your own recovery but you also undermine the professional credibility of the massage therapist.

Question:  How do I know if I have lymphoedema?

Answer:  Lymphoedema is a condition you've either had from early in life or acquired as a result of cancer treatment, an accident, surgery or more rarely seen in Australia, a tropical parasite infection called Filariasis (found in some tropical countries).   If you have not been diagnosed as having lymphoedema and think you might be experiencing it because of a swelling, please have your Doctor assess and diagnose your condition before you make an appointment.  A swollen limb can be a symptom of a number of conditions some of which are life threatening and require immediate medical attention.

Resources
 

This section contains some helpful resources which you may like to download.  To read the article simply click the link.  To save the article to your hard drive, simply right click on the link and select 'Save As'.

1. 'A study of Massage for Symptom Control'  - This study demonstrates the power of gentle oncology massage for people with cancer.  

2. 'Air Travel and Lymphoedema' - If you have lymphoedema and are thinking of flying, here is some important information you should know.