We start with basic massage adaptations such as the amount of pressure used and how to position our client.
Added to this is in-depth knowledge of cancer treatments and their impact on the body, specifically the soft tissues, as well as the whole person.
A therapist who is not oncology massage-aware may address the many side effects of cancer treatment without understanding exactly what brought them on and how they may, or may not, resolve over time.
This is where our work gets complex.
When working with someone affected by cancer treatments we spend a lot of time working in shades of grey where we cannot be decisively sure of what we are doing and how it could impact our client.
Enter…. nuanced massage treatments that are offered with caution, care, and slow progression to ensure that there are no adverse effects.
We work knowing that neither the therapist nor the client can be sure of the massage outcome.
We communicate so that our client understands the rationale behind the approach.
By the end of a session, we can readily admit that it really wasn’t simple at all.
It is, however, deeply impactful for our client and work that is always interesting for the therapist.
Comments