Good question. We get this question a lot. It comes to us from massage therapists who are curious about oncology massage therapy (OMT). It comes from established MTs considering a new direction, and from new MTs who might want to specialize. Some MTs ask us this because they are deciding whether to invest in an […]
Cold Caps, Frozen Feet, and Massage during Chemotherapy
Two clients come in with interesting stories. The first tells you she received chemotherapy two days ago while wearing an odd-looking cap with a chin strap. It was a special “cold cap” cooled her scalp during the chemotherapy infusion. It made for a chilly session, so the infusion staff took pains to keep the rest […]
7 Reasons Not to “Give Your Client Whatever They Want” at End of Life
“How was your massage last week?” “It was fine, good, actually. But honestly I would have liked it much harder. Can you go deeper today?” My client was speaking to me from her bed. She had advanced pancreatic cancer. Her pain was deep and constant. She wanted relief, and she wanted heavy massage. I’ve had […]
5 Questions for the Client with Neuropathy. And What to Do with the Answers.
It’s cold out, and your client keeps her socks on during her massage, leaving them for you to remove when you’re ready to work on her feet. As you peel off her left sock, you notice an abrasion on the ball of her foot, one she hadn’t noticed because of her loss of sensation. Later, […]