Oncology Massage
Every cancer patient can have massage during any stage of their treatment, as long as their therapist has been trained in oncology massage & is certified in Vodder method Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapy (MLD). This is a very specialized field of massage, so patients should not go to a day spa because odds are that there are no therapists there with the proper training. The therapist may unknowingly use too much pressure, push on a tumor, push lymph fluid the wrong way, or give you Lymphedema.
Oncology massage requires therapists to be fully educated in, and pay close attention to, the physical and emotional needs of clients in all stages of cancer, including a thorough understanding of precautions that should be practiced both during and after periods of radiation, chemotherapy, as well as pre- and post-surgery. The pressure the therapist uses will be light and soothing. He or she will know how to work around your port, radiation burns, surgical sites, and areas where lymph nodes were removed. He or she may have training in scar tissue release therapy (Myofascial Release), range of motion techniques, & knowledge of Lymphedema.
Ideally, your therapist will not only be an Oncology massage therapist, but will also be either a Vodder method Certified Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapist or Certified Lymphedema Therapist as well! Look for any of these letters after their name: CMLDT or CLT or MLD-C.
I am certified and can visit you in your home, assisted living facility, in the hospital, or you can come to my treatment room in Sylmar, CA.
On Thursdays, you can have a free 30-min session with me at WeSPARK Cancer Support Center in Sherman Oaks, CA. I also teach a Stretch & Strengthen class. Call the center for more information: 818-906-3022.
Wherever you see me, you can divide up the session any way you wish: just massage for tight muscles and stress, or just MLD to boost your immunity and reduce swelling and pain from Lymphedema, or scar tissue release from surgical scars, or a few minutes of each!
To find a qualified therapist, check www.s4om.org (the Society for Oncology Massage) or www.massagetherapy.com. Both websites have a therapist locator service based on your zipcode. Also check instagram.com/lymphaticprofessionals, the Klose Training directory (this is where I was trained!), the Vodder School directory, or the LANA directory.
Did you know? If you have had lymph nodes removed or irradiated, you are at risk for developing Lymphedema for the rest of your life. Please see the “Lymphedema /Lipedema” tab under “Services” to learn more about it.
I have a few YouTube videos discussing therapist certification, Oncology Massage, and MLD:
—What is Oncology Massage?
—The Correct Way To Do Lymphatic Drainage Therapy
—Does Your Lymphatic Drainage Therapist Have the Right Credentials?
—Deep Breathing To Boost Immune System & Decrease Swelling