What is Oncology Massage?
Oncology massage is a special type of massage developed specifically for cancer patients. Cancer patients have certain unique health needs which must be addressed in massage sessions to ensure that the massage is productive and not harmful to the patient. Several massage schools offer training in oncology massage to massage therapists and medical professionals, and many hospitals which offer cancer treatment also provide oncology massage as a service to patients who request it. The primary concern with massaging cancer patients is that a poorly performed massage could actually hurt the patient. Cancer patients are at risk for lymphedema, a condition caused by a buildup of fluid in the limbs, and a massage could also potentially break up cancerous tumors and cause them to spread in the body, making the cancer worse. Some cancer patients also experience increased sensitivity and very fragile skin, so massage can potentially be painful. These issues caused many doctors to recommend that c
