Stupid question about massages :)

[Stanfordmom]

Hi All,

I have a stupid question, and I feel too emnrassed to ask my oncologist

I heard from someone that having massages during chemo could help cancer spread in the lymph nodes. Is there any ground to this? Anyone of you checked with your onc before?

Thanks a lot,

Sha

[Voxx66]

I don't think it's a stupid question. I think the standard answer is that it likely won't though one should avoid massaging known tumors just to be safe.

[Krim4fun]

I have a friend who is an esthetician and she just finished a class on how to give treatment to cancer patients. One of the things she learned is that you shouldn't have a message in any area that has had lymph node involvement or removal. Unfortunately I don't remember what the reasoning was but I know she told me to avoid the affected area.

I hope this helps

Kim

[KWT]

Give tour onc a call and hopefully you can enjoy a massage. Did you say that Pam Kunz was your oncologist?

[Stanfordmom]

Thanks for replying!

Kenny, my onc is Dr. George Fisher. I happen to have an appointment tomorrow, will ask him then.

Kim, when you say massage to the affected area, is that direct massage in the area, or applying pressure to the affected area. For example, if my lymph node cancer is around the ascending colon, can I have massage in the back which indirectly apply pressure to that area? thanks a lot!

Sha

[elise]

I've had them through treatment and through dx. My onc didn't care. {Though I have NO lymph node involvement - my cancer seems to spread without them!}

Elise

[Nixma]

I do have LN involvement. I have refrained from getting massages, but I did not ask my onc.

[JJ2212]

I had massages every two weeks throughout chemo. I asked my onc and he said it was fine, but no massages to the abdomen. I found a massage therapist who had been trained as Kim described above. She asked to see my blood workup prior to each massage and adjusted the massage accordingly. For example, if my platelets were low, which they almost always were, she wouldn't do a deep-tissue massage but a gentler one.

These massages got me through the chemo blues. I always had something to look forward to on my chemo week-off.

I hope you get the go-ahead from your onc. If so, enjoy!

Janie

[CRguy]

The integrative medicine clinic I went to after recurrence had a program of therapeutic massage for patients with lymphedema, and did not distinguish between those with post-op problems or patients otherwise in active treatment..... just FYI.
It makes sense to avoid known tumours or recently surgerized sites. Lymph node and/or lymphatic involvement may preclude direct lymphatic massage ???????? so it will be interesting to see what Stanfordmom's doc says today.

[Stanfordmom]

Hi All,

Asked my onc today, and he said there was no ground for this.

But I will be careful to avoid direct pressure in the abdominal area. Thanks all for good info!

Sha

[KWT]

Enjoy it.

[weisssoccermom]

I realize that you already got your answer but thought I would throw my two cents in. My oncology clinic had someone who came in, I believe a few times a week, that gave massages (for a small fee) to the onc patients. As I haven't been a patient there now for a few years, I just checked their site. Yep, they still offer what they refer to as 'COMFORT THERAPIES' which include:
aromatherapy
massage
Music
Reiki

The oncs were all very supportive of their patients availing themselves of these services....for relaxation and just an overall improved outlook.
I took advantage of it during my time at the office.
Enjoy