Helen's  Thoughts  on  Oncology  Massage  

 

If   cancer   is   going   to   be   a   part   of   your   life’s   journey,  

then   I   can’t   think   of   anywhere   better   to   receive  

treatment   than   the   Chris   O’Brien   Integrated   Cancer  

Centre  (The  Lifehouse).    

 

I   am   57,   female   and   into   a   5-­‐year   pilgrimage   dealing  

with   the   ups   and   downs   that   breast   cancer   (and   all  

cancers)   bring.   There   is   no   end   in   sight   for  me;   I  was  

not  lucky  enough  to  draw  “the  survivor  all  clear”  straw.  However,  all  is  not  lost.    

 

Thanks  to  the  ‘yin  and  yang’  of  what  I  call  east  meets  west,  I  have  a  powerful  support  group  

that   I   regularly   access.   The   Lifehouse   offers   both   traditional   western   medicine   and   a  

wonderful   range  of  professional  complementary  therapies.   I  am  absolutely  convinced  that  

the  two  working  in  tandem  make  a  great  difference  to  both  my  physical  and  emotional  well-­‐

being.    

 

It  took  me  some  time  to  open  the  door  to  these  services:    

• firstly,   I   didn’t   really   understand   what   complementary   therapies   meant   and   how  

they  would  help  me;  

• secondly,  my  head  was  often  so  full  of   ‘other  stuff’   that   I  couldn’t  digest  any  more  

than  what  was  in  front  of  me;  and    

• thirdly,   like   a   day   at   the   office,   you   just  want   to   ‘get   the   hell   of   out   there’   when  

finished!    

 

It  was  Lizzie  Milligan  (NSW  Facilitator),  the  oncology  massage  therapist  who  was  visiting  the  

chemotherapy  suite  offering  free  15-­‐minute  massage,  and  it  just  so  happened  I  was  there.  In  

response  to  her  offer  I  said,  “I  don’t  really  like  that  sort  of  thing”  (thinking  face,  shoulders  –  

something   all   too   close   at   hand).   But   when   Lizzie   offered   the   safe   distance   of   a   foot  

massage,  I  was  in!  In  that  exchange,  she  came  to  me  and  I  didn’t  have  to  put  any  effort  into  

yet   another   good   idea   to   explore   in   order   to   “cure   my   cancer”,   and   instead   I   got   to  

experience  and  understand  how  complementary  therapies  could  be  useful.  In  hindsight,  this  

was  a  pivotal  moment.      

 

Now  2  years  on,  I  can  really  see  what  a  difference  regular  treatments  make.  I  describe  it  as  

looking   after   the   foundation   and   infrastructure   of   who   I   am.   Not   that   I   didn’t   eat   well,  

exercise   and   care   about   myself   before,   but   complementary   therapies   add   another  

dimension.  I  say  that  because  of  them,  both  my  body  and  mind  are  working  to  the  best  of  

their   ability.   This   in   turn   allows   the  medical   interventions   to   have   the   greatest   chance   to  

contain  and  control  my  cancer.    

 

It  was  Lizzie  who  first  gave  me  the  best  insight  into  what  I  was  doing.  She  said  “you  are  living  

with  cancer”.    Those  few  words  have  helped  me  tremendously  both  in  my  ups  and  downs,  

and  when  the  need  arises  to  communicate  my  situation  (which  doesn’t  come  easily).    

 

I   can’t   put   my   finger   on   it,   but   all   the   complementary   therapy   professionals   I   have  

experienced  are  just  incredible.    They  seem  to  have  a  real  ‘feel’  for  their  patients.  Perhaps  

this  is  what  attracted  them  in  the  first  place.  Given,  I  know  many  of  them  undertook  further  

training  to  specialise  in  treating  the  needs  of  cancer  patients.  I  am  so  glad  they  did.    

 

From  a  patient’s  perspective  there  is  no  need  to  explain  or  describe  how  I  am  feeling,  they  

just   seem  to   ‘get   it’;  a   tremendous   relief.  Visiting   the  services  on   the  Ground  Floor   in   the  

Lifehouse  is  a  very  different  environment  to  the  medical  appointments  on  the  second  floor.  

It  is  such  a  treat  that  all  the  services  are  together  in  one  place  and  beckoning  to  be  used!  It  

is   such  a  nice  experience.  No  matter  how   I  might   feel  or  what  sort  of  day   I  am  having,  as  

soon  as  I  enter  ‘the  Living  Room  zone’  I  start  to  relax.    

 

The  services  I  currently  use  include:      

• Oncology   Massage   –   Not   only   does   this   make   me   feel   good   but   helps   with   my  

lymphatic   drainage   and   surgical   areas.   I   can’t   believe   the   nerve   twitches   which  

started  up  out  of  nowhere  2  years   into  my  surgery  are  now  all  gone.  There   is  also  

less  numbness.  The  fluids  around  this  area  all  flow  far  more  smoothly  than  before.  It  

is  now  a  fortnightly  routine  that  I  look  forward  to.  

• Mindfulness  meditation  –  What  an  incredible  find!  Now  several  months  after  having  

taken  the  4  week,  once-­‐a-­‐week  class  at  the  Lifehouse  I  practice  meditation  at  home.  

It  helps  my  blood  pressure  and  anxiety.  Twenty  minutes,  once  a  day,   improves  my  

outlook  on  life  no  end.  No  longer  do  I  dwell  ‘far  too  much’  on  the  what-­‐ifs  but  am  far  

more  in  the  moment  of  every  day.    

• Acupuncture  –  I  can’t  say  I  understand  it  but  find  it  amazing!  Depending  on  the  issue  

I  might  do  it  weekly  or  monthly.  It  calmed  a  bout  of  nausea  with  the  result  that  it  no  

longer  occurs.  Currently,  I  am  working  on  increasing  my  low  platelet  count  and  was  

absolutely  thrilled  when  my  last  tests  showed  I  had  gone  up  10  notches!  

• Reflexology   –   Another   wonder   with   its   ability   to   touch   all   the   nerve   endings   and  

helps   keep   me   centred.   And   I   sleep   unbelievably   well   after   each   session.   I   treat  

myself  once  a  month.    

• Yoga  –   I   can’t   believe  what   a  difference  once  a  week  makes.   The   class   focuses  on  

simple   breathing   and   postures   that   are   uncomplicated.   I   find   it   improves   my  

flexibility  no  end.    

 

As   you   might   guess   I   tell   anyone   who   listens   how   wonderful   and   effective   the  

complementary   services   at   the   Lifehouse   are;   my   neurosurgeon,   medical   oncologist,  

radiologist,  nurse,  family,  friends  and  anyone  else  who  will  listen!!