| ... Metta Massage Therapy Cancer Massage is Safe and Effective ... |
Medicine Recognizes Cancer Massage as Safe and Effective
From Sloan-Kettering Hospital:
"Massage therapy has become a key method of treatment ……. [Sloan-Kettering
Hospital] established its Integrative Medicine Service in April of 1999, for the purpose
of upgrading the quality of life of cancer patients and their families. Complementary
therapies offered include many types of massage, spiritual healing, art and music therapy,
meditation, guided imagery and visualization, yoga, t'ai chi, nutritional counseling and
other services." |
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center |
American |
From the American Cancer Society:
"A growing number of health care professionals recognize massage as a useful addition
to conventional medical treatment…..Results from some recent studies indicate massage
may decrease stress, anxiety, depression, and pain, and increase alertness. One
review article reported massage helped improve migraines, blood pressure, postoperative
pain, and chronic fatigue. …. These potential benefits hold great promise for people
with cancer, who deal with the stresses of a serious illness and some unpleasant side
effects of conventional medical treatment. …. Massage conducted by a trained,
licensed professional is considered safe. One concern for people with cancer is that
massage might increase the risk that tissue manipulation will cause cancer cells to travel
to other parts of the body, however, there is no research to indicate that this will
happen." |
| From Oregon Health Sciences University "Six
years ago, I was asked to bring massage students to Oregon Health Sciences University, a
teaching and research hospital in Portland, to give comfort oriented massage to people
with cancer. Since then the students and I have massaged at least 500 people. The medical
staff frequently has required us to modify the bodywork sessions because of low platelet
counts, low white blood cell counts, recent blood clots, skin problems, medical devices or
incisions. Never once have we been asked to avoid certain patients or to make adjustments
due to the potential for metastatic spread." McDonald, Gayle. How Cancer Spreads. Massage Therapy Journal. Winter 2001. P74 |
Oregon Health Sciences University |
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Research at Duke, Harvard, Maryland, Miami and Others "The Touch Research Institutes have conducted over 90 studies on the positive effects of massage therapy on many functions and medical conditions in varied age groups. Among the significant research findings are enhanced growth (e.g. in preterm infants), diminished pain (e.g. fibromyalgia), decreased autoimmune problems (e.g., increased pulmonary function in asthma and decreased glucose levels in diabetes), enhanced immune function (e.g., increased natural killer cells in HIV and cancer), and enhanced alertness and performance (e.g., EEG pattern of alertness and better performance on math computations). Many of these effects appear to be mediated by decreased stress hormones. Several of these findings have been reviewed in the TRI newsletter (Touchpoints) and in the volumes Touch Therapy (Harcourt Brace) and Touch (MIT Press)." |
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by Bruce A. Hopkins