Living with cancer can be an incredibly challenging journey, filled with physical discomfort, emotional stress, and overwhelming uncertainty. As you navigate through treatments and their side effects, finding moments of relief and comfort becomes crucial for your overall well-being. Receiving an oncology massage in St. Louis at the J can enhance your quality of life during this uncomfortable and stressful time. Our trained therapists provide a safe, nurturing environment where you can experience the potential benefits of this specialized massage, helping to ease discomfort and promote a sense of relaxation and healing. So, what are the benefits of oncology massage? Let’s take a closer look!
What Is An Oncology Massage?
Undergoing cancer treatments present numerous challenges, including physical discomfort and emotional stress. Oncology massage offers a supportive therapy to help manage these difficulties.
Oncology massage is a specialized, non-invasive therapy tailored for individuals with cancer or a history of cancer treatment. It employs gentle techniques to provide comfort, reduce stress, and promote relaxation.
This client-specific massage adapts traditional techniques to each patient’s unique health situation. It uses light touch and slow movements to help the body relax, working with the central nervous system and lymphatic flow.
Properly trained oncology massage therapists are crucial because they must understand the cautions and risks for cancer patients. At the J in St. Louis, licensed massage therapists Kyler Williams and Faith Murphy, both certified in Oncology Massage by S4OM, provide these specialized services.
Benefits of Oncology Massage for Cancer Patients
Uncover the potential of oncology massage to enhance your well-being and complement your current treatments. Learn how this specialized therapy can offer moments of relief and comfort during challenging times. Discover the power of healing touch as we explore how oncology massage can be a soothing ally in your cancer journey.
Reduced Fatigue and Improved Sleep
Oncology massage offers a multitude of benefits for cancer patients, particularly in addressing the challenges of fatigue and sleep disturbances. Cancer-related fatigue is a common and often debilitating symptom that can significantly impact daily life. Through gentle, specialized techniques, oncology massage helps combat this fatigue by promoting relaxation and enhancing overall comfort.
The soothing touch of massage not only alleviates physical tension but also encourages better sleep quality. By calming the nervous system, oncology massage creates an environment conducive to restful sleep, allowing patients to recharge and regain energy.
Minimize Pain, Anxiety, and Stress
Cancer patients often face significant challenges with pain, anxiety, and stress throughout their treatment journey. Pain can stem from various sources, including the tumor itself, as well as side effects from treatments like chemotherapy and radiation.
The physical discomfort is often compounded by the emotional toll of a cancer diagnosis, leading to heightened levels of anxiety and stress. These psychological factors can, in turn, worsen the perception of pain. This pain, anxiety, and stress flow creates a vicious cycle that significantly impacts a patient’s quality of life.
Massage therapy has emerged as a valuable complementary approach to help alleviate these symptoms in cancer patients. Studies have shown that massage can effectively reduce pain, with some patients reporting decreased use of pain medications.
The physical manipulation of soft tissues can help relax tense muscles and improve circulation. Touch also stimulates the release of endorphins, the body’s natural pain-relieving chemicals.
Additionally, massage has been found to significantly reduce anxiety and stress levels in cancer patients, potentially by promoting relaxation and reducing cortisol levels.
While massage therapy is not a cure for cancer-related pain, anxiety, or stress, it can be a supportive tool for managing these symptoms. Various massage techniques, including Swedish massage, foot reflexology, and hand acupressure, can be beneficial. It’s important to note that massage should be performed by therapists trained in oncology massage to ensure safety and effectiveness for cancer patients.
Aids with Chemotherapy-Related Nausea
Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a significant challenge for cancer patients, affecting up to 80% of those undergoing treatment. Despite available anti-emetic medications, 40-60% of patients still experience nausea post-chemotherapy. This can make daily life hard and might make some people want to stop their treatment.
Along with medications, massage can aid in reducing CINV symptoms. One of the most effective techniques is a foot massage. It can help make patients feel less sick both right after chemotherapy and in the days that follow. Another technique is acupressure, such as pressing certain points on the body, like a spot on the inner wrist. This has been shown to help both adults and children with cancer feel less nauseous.
Using these extra methods, along with regular anti-nausea medicine, can make patients more comfortable. This might help them stick with their cancer treatment and possibly have better results.
By combining different ways to fight nausea, patients have more options to feel better during their cancer care. This could improve their overall experience and make daily life easier while they’re getting treatment.
Eased Feelings of Constipation
Dealing with digestive issues during cancer treatment can be incredibly frustrating and uncomfortable. Many patients experience constipation as a side effect of chemotherapy, pain medications, or changes in diet and activity levels.
It’s important to remember that you’re not alone in facing these difficulties. There are gentle, natural ways to find relief and promote better digestive health.
One approach that has shown promise in easing constipation and improving overall digestive function is an abdominal massage. This soothing technique involves gentle manipulation of the abdomen, following the natural path of the large intestine. The “I-L-U” massage, for instance, uses specific stroking patterns to stimulate peristalsis and encourage bowel movements.
Combined with other strategies like staying hydrated, incorporating fiber-rich foods when appropriate, and light exercise (as permitted by your care team), abdominal massage can be a comforting way to support your body’s natural digestive processes during this difficult time.
Remember to always consult with your healthcare providers before trying new techniques, as they can provide personalized guidance based on your specific situation and treatment plan.
Improved Sense of Well-being
Massage therapy offers profound psychological benefits that can significantly enhance one’s sense of well-being. Through the power of touch, massage creates a unique opportunity for individuals to reconnect with their bodies and cultivate a deeper sense of self-awareness. This heightened body awareness often leads to greater self-acceptance and a more positive body image as people learn to appreciate their physical selves without judgment.
The gentle, nurturing touch of a skilled massage therapist can help individuals feel valued and cared for, fostering a sense of inner peace and satisfaction that radiates outward. Moreover, massage therapy serves as a gateway to relaxation and mental clarity. As the therapist’s hands work to release physical tension, the mind is encouraged to let go of stress and worry.
This state of relaxation activates the body’s parasympathetic nervous system, triggering the release of feel-good hormones like serotonin and dopamine while reducing cortisol levels. The result is a profound sense of calm and tranquility that can persist long after the massage session ends. Many people report feeling more centered, focused, and emotionally balanced following a massage, with a renewed ability to face life’s challenges with resilience and clarity.
Oncology Massage at the J in St. Louis
The J in St. Louis offers a specialized oncology massage program designed to support individuals throughout their cancer journey. This non-invasive therapy uses gentle techniques to help manage cancer symptoms and treatment side effects, promoting relaxation and overall well-being.
The program is led by two highly qualified Licensed Massage Therapists, Kyler Williams and Faith Murphy, both of whom hold Certificates of Completion in Oncology Massage from the Society for Oncology Massage (S4OM).
At the J, oncology massage is tailored to each individual’s unique needs and treatment plan. Our therapists are trained to gather essential information from clients and make appropriate adjustments based on their personal history and current treatment regimen.
This personalized approach ensures that patients receive safe and effective care that complements their ongoing medical treatments. The program aims to provide comfort, support, and a nurturing touch to help individuals cope with the physical and emotional challenges of cancer.