Therapeutic Massage and Palliative Cancer Therapy
Jack Bleeker
August 7, 2009
In recent years the role of alternative therapies in cancer care has transformed the way many patients cope with illness and related side of effects. Older paradigms suggest that cancer can only be effectively treated with traditional treatments such as surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Those who refuse this notion seek alternative therapies outside of their treatment regimen to experience relaxation as well as an ease in side-effects associated with traditional treatment regimens, including those caused by chemotherapy drugs.
Today, not only patients but also the medical establishment recognizes the importance of alternative therapies, and particularly the importance of massage therapy in comprehensive cancer care. Massage, like most alternative cancer therapies, is most effective when used in conjunction with traditional treatments.
Therapeutic massage is unique in that it remedies the feeling of isolation which is experienced by many people who battle a difficult disease. The human contact that massage therapy soothes the psychological stresses that cancer patients endure such as feelings of being overwhelmed by the nature of their diagnosis, family implications, and other difficulties associated with cancer treatments.
Often, the most valuable treatments to patients battling a difficult diagnosis are those that allow the patient to be as comfortable and relaxed as possible. Patients battling aggressive cancers, such as mesothelioma, often forgo traditional treatments which will put their body through a great deal of stress and discomfort in favor of those such as massage, which provide peace of mind and comfort. Patients undergoing traditional treatments such as chemotherapy often find that therapies that are able to relax their mind and body, will dramatically lessen side effects like nausea, restlessness, and fever.
As with any treatment, the benefits of massage therapy are to be determined on a case by case circumstance. However, given the positive experience many patients have experienced, it is certainly worth exploring. Maximizing your cancer therapies with cooperation between patient, family, and physician will encourage patients to live healthy and comfortably, which is the goal of all comprehensive therapies.
Nov. 2009
What Impact Can Reflexology Have on Our Lives?
Reflexology Research and Quality of Life
Researchshows that reflexology improves quality of life for individuals of various ages and those with a variety of disorders. As increasing numbers of individuals participate in health seeking activities, such research draws attention to reflexology for inclusion in a healthy lifestyle.
Recent research (see below) demonstrates that for those with Parkinson’s Disease, cancer patients and pre-menopausal women, reflexology improves quality of life. These studies follow in the footsteps of previous research which demonstrated improved quality of life for: cancer patients (3 studies); hospice (2 studies); senior citizens (cobblestone mat walking); aggressive children (mainstreaming to regular classroom); constipation / encopresis in children; hypertension (3 studies) and stroke patients.
Researchers form the Department of Nursing at Songwon University in Korea studied what happened when premenopausal women applied “self reflexology” three times a week for six weeks. They compared the results to 29 women who did not. “The results showed that self-foot reflexology was effective in reducing perceived stress and fatigue and helped blood circulation in pre-menopausal middle-aged women. Conclusion: Self-foot reflexology may be an effective nursing intervention in reducing perceived stress and fatigue and in improving blood circulation.” Jang SH, Kim KH., “Effects of self-foot reflexology on stress, fatigue and blood circulation in premenopausal middle-aged women,” Journal of Korean Academic Nurs ing 2009 Oct;39(5):662- 72.J, Department of Nursing, Songwon College, Korea.
Researchers at the Nursing Department of Bedfordshire University in England, “explored whether reflexology could improve or sustain the wellbeing of people with Parkinson’s Disease [PD] using the PDQ39 wellbeing tool designed specifically for use with people with PD. The treatment protocol involved giving 8 therapy sessions (over 20 weeks) to 16 people with varying degrees of PD in a cross-over design to enable a longitudinal survey of impact. Whilst the results reþected the progressive nature of PD deterioration over time there was an improvement in wellbeing over the active therapy phase. These results suggest that continuous two- three weekly reflexology may limit further deterioration or maintain improvement of wellbeing. A further study is indicated to study this hypothesis.” Johns, Christopher, Blake, Debbie, Sinclair, Alan, “Can reflexology maintain or improve the well- being or people with Parkinson’s Disease?” Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice , Nov. 2009
In a study of cancer patients following breast surgery, researchers at Exeter University of England assigned 183 women randomly to one of three groups: SIS (self-initiated support), SIS plus reflexology, or SIS plus scalp massage. The women received eight weekly reflexology or scalp massage sessions starting six weeks after breast surgery. Two weeks after sessions stopped, researchers measured quality of life using: Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy with secondary outcome measures of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Mood Rating Scale (MRS). Researchers found that “When compared to SIS, reflexology and (scalp) massage have statistically signiÞcant, and, for reflexology, clinically worthwhile, effects on QofL (Quality of Life) following surgery for early breast carcinoma. ” Sharp DM et al, “A randomised, controlled trial of the psychological effects of reflexology in early breast cancer,” European Journal of Cancer , 11/13/09
The is a reprint from a newsletter published by Kevin and Barbara Kunz. Both Kevin and Barbara are leaders in Research and Education of Reflexology for Professional and Client alike.
