Navigator Spa refuses massage to Cancer Patient

 

I went to the American Cancer Society website and looked around. It appears there is at the least an unproven theory about the spreading of cancer due to massage. I copied the paragraph below from the website. As stated, it is an unproven theory.

 

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Another concern for people who have cancer is that, in theory, tissue manipulation in the area of a tumor might increase the risk that cancer cells will travel to other parts of the body. It might be prudent for cancer patients to avoid massage near tumors and lumps that could be cancerous until this question is clearly answered.

Exactly. For a long time it was absolutely the prevailing thought, and I actually didn't know that the prevailing thought and training had changed.

2. It seems to me the spa manager was using prudence. Like you, she is not a physician and not equipped to judge how a massage might interact with the cancer cells.

3. She actually acted correctly in seeking the opinion of someone with greater understanding. God forbid, the massage could do damage.

 

Bottom line... I commend the staff and manager for acting with caution and wisdom

Absolutely.

http://www.tracywalton.com/downloads/Walton-CA-and-MT-Part-I-Essential-Contraindications.pdf

Page 2 discusses the fact that this IS what was taught for a good amount of time.

From what I've skimmed, it's actually a really good read. Gets into the whys and discussion of it.

http://www.massagetoday.com/mpacms/mt/article.php?id=13542

This also discusses that it was indeed taught like that.

And again (extra interesting because it was written 15 years ago): http://www.massagetherapy.com/articles/index.php/article_id/278/Massage-and-the-Cancer-Patient

With the line "Unless it's something therapists do or specialize in, they may not retain that knowledge base," which is VERY important to remember when going to someone giving massages on a cruise.

This might be about the same as that first link, but maybe easier to read. Again, shows that it's not so crazy that the massage person onboard felt that way, because it was indeed the viewpoint for a long time.

https://www.amtamassage.org/articles/3/MTJ/detail/1802

I can totally imagine that someone who doesn't routinely work with people dealing with this would NOT want to do it; you can imagine they are thinking what if they mess up? what if they make someone sicker? what if what if what if? (and I wouldn't want someone not skilled in working with this condition to give a person with that condition massage, personally)

Actually, here's the American Cancer Society's statement regarding this:

 

"Another concern for people who have cancer is that, in theory, tissue manipulation in the area of a tumor might increase the risk that cancer cells will travel to other parts of the body. It might be prudent for cancer patients to avoid massage near tumors and lumps that could be cancerous until this question is clearly answered." http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/manualhealingandphysicaltouch/massage

Don't know why you dredged up a seven month ol thread only to repeat a quote posted in post #11. Might help to read through a thread before posting.

Meanwhile I hope the OP's gf is well on her way to recovery.

Don't know why you dredged up a seven month ol thread only to repeat a quote posted in post #11. Might help to read through a thread before posting.

 

Meanwhile I hope the OP's gf is well on her way to recovery.

Just thinking that myself.