I recently had a breast cancer client say, “You know, I’ve had a lot of people ask me if I’m finished with treatment. I tell them yes, because I am finished with treatment, but I still don’t feel very good. They mean well, but they don’t understand.”
I said to her, “Many of us don’t understand that most of the healing begins when cancer treatment ends”.
Chemotherapy, radiation and surgery are hard on the body; physically and emotionally. Your body fights continuously to stay at homeostasis (in balance). Throw the trauma of chemo, radiation and/or surgery into the mix and it can be devastating to your body.
Massage therapy makes a positive difference before, during and after cancer treatment. However, after working with many cancer patients, I think it has a greater impact on the body following treatment.
Back to my client: She is a breast cancer patient who is finished with treatment, however, the side-effects of treatment continue; Bilateral mastectomy, 33 rounds of radiation to the right upper quadrant and chemotherapy. She is experiencing discomfort in the right shoulder, trunk and breast mainly due to muscle contraction and difficult ROM. She is concerned about her risk of lymphedema because of lymph node removal. The implant in the right breast is moving upward and outward.
So, while her cancer treatment is complete, her symptoms of cancer treatment continue. She gets massage as a means of helping her cope with the after-effects of treatment and she is very happy with the outcome. Massage has made a difference in her range-of-motion allowing her to raise her arm above her head without discomfort. She is also benefiting from the deep relaxation massage provides.
I’m very happy that massage is helping her pain levels and range of motion, but more importantly, massage is helping her heal; not only physically but emotionally. I firmly believe that in order to heal you must find rest. Massage therapy allows the body to relax deeply, which in turn promotes healing.
Thank you, my sweet client for allowing me to be a part of your healing journey. It’s an honor to serve you.
–Susan
ProgressiveMassageTherapy.com