Many cancer centers offer massage, and knowledge of massage for cancer survivors and patients is growing.
In June, the American Society of Clinical Oncology endorsed an evidence-based guideline created by the Society for Integrative Oncology that recommends complementary therapies, including massage therapy, for cancer patients. However, a recent study found a lack of integration when it comes to massage therapy and outpatient cancer care. The Society for Oncology Massage lists more than 130 “Hospitals Incorporating Oncology Massage.” This is just one self-reporting list, meaning that in the U.S. there could be many more clinical settings that incorporate oncology massage. The study was originally published in the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork; MASSAGE Magazine obtained the original study from its authors for this report. Study Design The study, titled, “Integration of massage therapy in outpatient cancer care,” focused on 62 cancer centers associated with the National Cancer Institute (NCI). According to the study’s authors, “NCI-designated comprehensive and clinical Cancer Centers are considered to be cutting-edge, progressive institutions at the forefront of patient care.” The researchers used a combination of content analysis and telephone surveys to gather data on the integration of massage for outpatients at these NCI-designated cancer centers. The study’s authors systematically searched each cancer center’s website for any information related to massage, then conducted telephone surveys to compile additional data. With ratings ranging from zero for “not at all” to five for “very high,” the researchers honed in on five factors pertaining to massage for outpatient cancer care:
These five variables served as the basis of an algorithm developed to measure the extent to which massage had been integrated into each center’s outpatient cancer care. Study Results Results of the analysis showed 11 of the 62 cancer centers, or about 18 percent, scored very high in terms of the integration of massage for outpatients. Close to one-third of the cancer centers assessed, or 22 of the 62 programs, had no integration of massage at all, “not even provision of information about massage to patients through the center website.” “This indicates an opportunity for further dissemination of information about massage research to health care providers and administrators working in cancer care,” the study’s authors conclude. Among the 62 cancer programs assessed, 34 offered massage for cancer patients. Ten of these programs required physician referral for oncology massage, and another eight requested but did not require physician referral. At the remainder of the 34 of cancer centers where massage was offered, scheduling a session was the responsibility of the patient and the massage practitioner. This article appears in Massage Magazine www.massagemag.com/massage-for-cancer-patients-109590/ If you’re on the lookout for a new career, we encourage you to take a look at massage therapy. Massage therapy can offer several job opportunities, flexible schedules, and personal reward. We hope that you decide to explore this wonderful career, but before you take the first step, you must know what a massage therapist does, the career opportunities, and how you can go about becoming one.
Depending on where they work, massage therapists may perform a variety of bodywork treatments. They can learn techniques from sports injury treatments to Swedish massage for relaxation. During our program, students can learn massage fundamentals, Swedish massage, Deep Tissue massage, body mechanics, and much more. We even cover client retention and communication, in addition to laws and ethics. Where Does a Massage Therapist Work? A massage therapist can work in places like:
How Do I Become One? To become a certified massage therapist, attend a reputable massage therapy school. Our Massage Therapist Program is 750 hours, and you can be finished in under 1 year! It takes just a few minutes to contact us and find out what we can offer to you! Bonus: we provide free job placement assistance to graduates in addition to our diverse curriculum. We can help you fine-tune your resume and look for job opportunities. The potential can be limitless! To find out more about how to get started, contact us! Give us a call 256- |
Bethany Johnsonis a licensed massage therapist and instructor through the Alabama State Board of Massage Therapy. She has been a licensed therapist since 2008 and is a former program director of the therapeutic massage program at Virginia College in Huntsville until July 2017. She is a 2006 graduate of communications from Jacksonville State University and a 2008 graduate of Gadsden State Community College Massage Therapy. Bethany loves teaching therapeutic massage to future therapists and stays up to date on varieties of modalities and techniques. ArchivesCategories |