Recommended by the American Cancer Society to bring comfort and to improve the quality of life for cancer patients, massage therapy has been added to integrative oncology programs at many cancer treatment centers. To enable cancer patients to minimize the negative effects of cancer treatment, massage therapy can help relax and soothe the body. Physicians and trained massage therapists provide patients with the facts about the potential advantages of massage therapy, which include:
A variety of massage techniques are used, from therapeutic touch to neuromuscular massage.
A light, subtle form of touch therapy designed to completely relax the body and mind. Therapeutic touch involves work with the hands on or off the body depending on the goal of the session. Typically admired for its centering properties, this modality has also been to shown to reduce many negative side effects that are associated with treatment and improve overall sense of well-being.
Methods can be performed either seated or lying down and can include breathing exercises, light joint movements and visualization techniques. Loose, comfortable clothing is encouraged. Treatments times range from fifteen to an hour and a half depending on your specific treatment plan.
A passive form of therapy, Gentle Stretching (light joint movements), can incorporate the necessary techniques to improve flexibility, reduce muscle tension, chronic pain and stress relief.
Performed either seated or lying down, clients are encouraged to completely relax while specific areas of the body are stretched lightly. Each session can include passive stretching and gentle yoga modalities combined with deep breathing exercises, positive visualization and helpful relaxation tools to carry into everyday life.
Based on ancient techniques, Reflexology is a system of trigger points on the feet that are individually correlated to other areas of the body. Treatments provide relaxing effects for enhanced periods of time and are gentle in nature. This form of therapy is often mistaken for a foot massage but, Reflexology is genuinely designed to detoxify individual areas of the body, cleanse the lymphatic system and calm the mind.
Each session can be performed in twenty to forty five minute intervals with patients either seated or in a reclining position.
Swedish massage is one of the most gentle forms of therapeutic touch. It involves light manipulation of the superficial muscle layers that provides an overall state of relaxation to the mind and body. Using gentle pressure, in long, fluid strokes it allows for muscle tension to be released and generates improved health and well-being.
This massage technique is the most common and special considerations are taken to ensure that your therapy session is not only safe but structured in conjunction with your physician’s current treatment plan. Treatments are offered in increments of five minutes to an hour and a half depending on your realistic and desired goals.
Lymphatic Massage is a subtle form of touch that is designed to aid the Lymphatic System and boost immunity. It is performed using fingertip pressure in slow, soft circular movements. Based on the flow of the lymph system, lymphatic massage can have peaceful, relaxing benefits that enhance the healing process.
Closely adhering to your physician’s and personal guidelines, your Oncology Massage Therapist is dedicated to providing a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. This technique is a natural compliment to current conventional treatment, turning release into positive experience.
Sessions are fifteen to sixty minutes, performed on separate segments of the body individually and applied in a systematic series.
Based on Trigger Point Therapy, NMT is designed specifically for pain relief and releasing areas of chronic muscle tension. The therapist uses thumb pressure to actively relax and reset muscles therefore improving overall posture and enhanced self awareness.
Often mistaken for Deep Tissue Massage, NMT is a more effective, less intense and has the ability to reduce many systems associated with treatment.
Hand in hand with your doctor, you NMT Oncology therapist can provide sessions of fifteen minutes to an hour and a half. Specific areas of the body are treated individually each session or as a whole depending on your treatment goals.
We wanted to share this story with all sports enthusiasts and non-sport enthusiasts alike. This is written by a sports anchor from Fox 6 in Milwaukee . It doesn’t get any better than this.
“Save Me A Spot”
This job affords me some incredible opportunities. Being a member of the FOX 6 Sports team means I’ve been able to witness and report on events and people that many can only admire from a distance. I never take these situations for granted and sincerely appreciate being involved in whatever capacity each permits.
Monday marked just the most recent case as I had the unparalleled privilege to be a part of Aaron Rodgers charity event to benefit the MACC Fund, a charity towards eradicating childhood cancer and blood disorders.
Scattered throughout the crowd of rabid Packers aficionados, were the people who I consider the event’s real MVPs. They are the families who’ve been forced to deal with one of life’s toughest sentences – the loss of a child.
Those who sprung for the tickets were not disappointed. In a world where many athletes regurgitate canned and rehearsed responses, the Packers quarterback was refreshingly candid. Aaron addressed a number of topics with in-depth, honest reaction – even some that if reprinted and mass distributed might raise some eyebrows.
Aaron stressed the importance of availability and accountability. In his opinion, it is a player’s responsibility to attend all of the team activities as they are all intended to better the team as a whole. And then, similarly, he addressed the importance of taking the heat/criticism when one falls short of expectations and duties.
He is never nervous to take the field. Aaron is supremely confident in the preparation he’s put in during the week leading up to Sunday’s match up. The way the 2009 season ended was disappointing but his self-confidence was not affected by the outcome. One of the toughest realizations was that that combination of players would never take the field together again. He likened the team to a family and admitted that conflict can and does occasionally exist but they try to handle such situations with maturity and civility.
He talked music and his love for tunes at a young age revealing that his mom used to sing and play lullabies and country music when he was a child. Aaron’s record label Suspended Sunrise is a product of this passion but also a contingency plan for life after football. His favorite song is Ben Harper’s ‘Forever’ and he’s envious of John Mayer’s guitar skills though not his tabloid reputation. He appreciated my affinity for Keith Urban but gave the audience a thumbs-down when I mentioned fellow country crooner Kenny Chesney.
His favorite book is The Bible and he tries to read it every day not just when life’s challenges and struggles surface.
His favorite movie is The Princess Bride which he admits he’s caught flack for but says he andhis childhood friends can recite every line from the film and it is simply a great story.
Rodgers’ answers to questions on this night were certainly admirable. And I honestly didn’t think I could respect Aaron more. But I was wrong.
My friend, the father of that young girl who passed, was there that night. He was one of several attendees brought up on stage where he caught a football thrown by the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers.
He asked Aaron to sign the football he’d caught. He wondered if he’d make it out to his daughter. It isn’t shocking that Rodgers obliged. What caught me off guard was the dedication he made. It wasn’t until after Aaron left that I first saw the autograph… and the simple yet sweet message that brought tears to this father’s eyes: “To Cheri the angel. Save me a spot. – Aaron Rodgers”
I hope that Packers fans realize how lucky they are to have such an upstanding young man leading their team on the field every weekend. I hope they appreciate the challenges that were thrust upon him and acknowledge the maturity with which he handled them. I hope they stand behind the kid and respect him not only for his incredible talent but for his intelligence and honesty, poise and compassion.
My job has afforded me the chance to watch Aaron Rodgers play football for the last few seasons. But I am truly thankful for the opportunity to see the other side of this impressive young man. And pass on some of what I witnessed to you.
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| Prostate cancer survivors, medical and research specialists, government, community and industry leaders will assemble for the sixth annual PHEN summit. The two-day summit, which is open and free to the public, will be held in the Rayburn House Office Building on Thursday, September 16th (9am – 4pm), and at the Washington Convention Center on Friday, September 17th (8:30am – 12 noon). The Friday session is hosted by Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY) as a part of the Congressional Black Caucus “Annual Legislative Conference.”
The Thursday session will focus on new prostate cancer treatments along with clinical trials and research efforts which are underway toward future treatments. The session will examine how these new developments can reduce or eliminate the 150% African American death rate disparity. The importance, and the process, of patients making informed decisions about their treatments selections, and participating in clinical trials, will be an important part of the Thursday session. The Friday program will highlight PHEN’s “Rally Against Prostate Cancer” (RAP Cancer) national education and awareness initiatives. Presentations by survivors and church leaders will focus on the highly successful 2010 “Father’s Day Rally” held within churches across the country. They will outline their experiences reaching men and women through this inaugural PHEN / church partnership effort. Plans and strategies for expanding church participation in the 2011 Father’s Day Rally will be presented and discussed. A major emphasis will be on goals and plans to utilize the PHEN / Church partnerships to broaden and accelerate prostate health education and awareness outreach throughout Black America with the highest levels of visibility, priority and effectiveness ever achieved. National leaders and key decision makers will be active participants in the 2010 summit as has been the tradition for the PHEN summits since they were started in 2005. Summit Registration For more information click here: http://www.prostatehealthed.org/ |
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Welcome to RC Cancer Talk! We’re glad you’re reading our 1st official blog. The RC Cancer Centers’ team is comprised of physicians, physicists, nurses, radiation therapists, medical assistants, developers, financial counselors and many others. Each offers a different perspective, but shares the same passion for treating and caring for cancer patients. We want this blog to provide you with information that inspires, educates, promotes discussion, entertains and offers support in your life. This blog is a place to share your thoughts, ask questions and discuss topics with others.
Please let us know what topics are of interest. We want to include content which you are passionate about and that will be of value. “Remember that life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away!” – Author Unknown
Be on the lookout for upcoming posts in the near future and beyond.
Thank you for visiting our blog. Enjoy!
-The RC Cancer Centers Team
©2012 Physician Oncology Services. All Rights Reserved.
Also known as RC Cancer Centers.
