ONCOLOGY MASSAGE
An oncology massage is a client-specific, customized massage session designed to meet the unique and changing needs of someone in treatment for cancer or with a history of cancer treatment. A safe massage plan generally revolves around the side effects (both short- and long-term) of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.
Oncology massage can only be provided by a massage therapist who has received training in the specifics of cancer and cancer treatment. When you are receiving an oncology massage, you are receiving traditional, established massage therapy techniques that have been adapted to account for your unique health situation.
The changes that might be made to a massage that make it an "oncology massage" can fall under any number of categories, but typically they will be related to session length, pressure, positioning and areas of specific compromise or concern like mediports, bone metastases or skin reactions to treatment.
RESOURCES
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Society for Oncology Massage: Find a preferred practitioner of oncology massage in your area.
https://www.s4om.org/clients-and-patients
National Cancer Institute: NCI leads, conducts, and supports cancer research across the nation to advance scientific knowledge and help all people live longer, healthier lives.
NCI Leads the National Cancer Program
As the leader of the cancer research enterprise, collectively known as the National Cancer Program, and the largest funder of cancer research in the world, NCI manages a broad range of research, training, and information dissemination activities that reach across the entire country, meeting the needs of all demographics—rich and poor, urban and rural, and all racial/ethnic populations. Specifically, NCI focuses on two broad roles: cancer research and training and support for cancer researchers.
https://www.cancer.gov
American Cancer Society: funds and conducts research, sharing expert information, supporting patients, and spreading the word about prevention. Today, the American Cancer Society is a global leader in the fight against cancer, working tirelessly to save lives by helping people stay well and get well, by finding cures, and by fighting back against the disease. The Society is proud to have contributed to the work that has resulted in a 27% drop in the overall cancer death rate in the United States. That drop equates to 2.6 million fewer cancer deaths between 1991 and 2016. Progress continues and is currently estimated at 500 fewer cancer deaths each day.
http://www.cancer.org
Trip Database: is a meta-search engine, allowing users to both simultaneously search thousands of databases, medical publications and resources, as well as easily filter the results: limiting searches to the most stringent, highest-quality medical evidence or expanding them to include results like patient information, news articles and more.
http://www.tripdatabase.com
PubMed: is a free digital archive of references and abstracts on life sciences and biomedical topics. PubMed comprises 20-million-plus citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals and online books from around the world
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
The Cochrane Library: is a collection of high-quality medical databases which have, at their core, the Cochrane Reviews, systematic reviews and meta-analyses which summarize and interpret the results of well-conducted, randomized controlled trials, frequently referenced as the ‘gold standard’ in evidence-based medicine. The Cochrane Library is a subscription-based database but offers free access to abstracts.
https://www.cochrane.org
Medline Plus: is the National Institutes of Health's Web site for patients and their families and friends. Produced by the National Library of Medicine, the world’s largest medical library, it brings you information about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues in language you can understand. MedlinePlus offers reliable, up-to-date health information, anytime, anywhere, for free.
https://medlineplus.gov/cancerlivingwithcancer.html
RESEARCH ARTICLES
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Massage therapy for breast cancer patients: a systematic review. Lee MS, Lee EN, Ernst E. Ann Oncol. 2011 Jun;22(6):1459-61. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdr147. Epub 2011 May 4.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21543629
The effects of oncology massage on symptom self-report for cancer patients and their caregivers. Lopez G, Liu W, Milbury K, Spelman A, Wei Q, Bruera E, Cohen L. Support Care Cancer. 2017 Dec;25(12):3645-3650. doi : 10.1007/s00520-017-3784-7. Epub 2017 Jun 28.
Abstract: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28660350
Full Text: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00520-017-3784-7
Massage modalities and symptoms reported by cancer patients: narrative review. Myers CD1, Walton T, Bratsman L, Wilson J,Author information: H.Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612-9497, USA. cynthia.myers@moffitt.org
Abstract: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18302907
Effect of acupoint therapies on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: A systematic review protocol. Hu J1,2, Shen Y3, Zhang G1, He J1,2, Sun M1,2, Zhang H1, Hua B1, Zheng H1. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019 Sep;98(37):e17109. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000017109.
Abstract: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31517844
Full Text: https://insights.ovid.com/pubmed?pmid=31517844
Integrating Oncology Massage Into Chemoinfusion Suites: A Program Evaluation. Mao JJ1, Wagner KE1, Seluzicki CM1, Hugo A1, Galindez LK1, Sheaffer H1, Fox KR1. J Oncol Pract. 2017 Mar;13(3):e207-e216. doi: 10.1200/JOP.2016.015081. Epub 2017 Jan 3.
Abstract: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28045616
Full Text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5702787/
Effects of Massage on Pain, Mood Status, Relaxation and Sleep in Taiwanese patients with Metastatic Bone Pain: A randomized Clinical Trial. Pain. 2011 Jul 28. [Epub ahead of print]
Abstract: https://www.s4om.org/abstracts-and-articles/378-effects-of-massage-on-pain-mood-status-relaxation-and-sleep-in-taiwanese-patients
Massage Therapy eases Many Cancer Patients Ills. Alison McCook, 2004.
https://www.s4om.org/abstracts-and-articles/387-reuters-health