Individual hands-on therapies are offered from date of diagnosis until six months post treatment. Participants may schedule three hands-on therapies per month on a once-a-week basis. Additionally, support services and group programs are available to current participants and all cancer survivors in the community.
Massage Therapy
Massage can release tension and encourage healing. Oncology massage uses gentle pressure, so it is compatible with pre-and post-surgical patients, and anytime during or after cancer treatment. The known benefits of receiving a massage are: relaxation, improved circulation, strengthening of the immune system, removal of toxins from the body, improved sleep, and reduction of fatigue, pain, and anxiety. Massage sessions last approximately 30 minutes and can be done either clothed or unclothed per participant’s request.
Perhaps the most important aspect of massage is the sense of well-being that comes from a session. Massage is accomplished through specific manipulations using the therapists’ hands on the soft tissue of the body for a therapeutic effect. All of our therapists are licensed and oncology trained, and can accommodate the individual needs related to lymphedema, post-surgical requirements or personal comfort level. When unclothed, participants will be fully covered during the service with the exception of the area being worked on to preserve personal dignity. Lotions are selected to limit sensitivity concerns.
Reflexology
The basic philosophy of reflexology is that the foot holds reflex areas that mirror and connect to all parts of the body. Practitioners are trained to pinpoint these areas. In addition to improving function in the connecting area, the technique promotes overall relaxation and facilitates improvement in circulation and elimination systems. Reflexology appointments are approximately 45 minutes in length and require the removal of socks and shoes. You remain in a seated position in a zero gravity chair for complete relaxation.
Healing Touch and/or Reiki
Healing Touch and Reiki are complementary energy-based approaches to healing. They work with the energy of the body to induce deep relaxation in order to restore harmony and balance in one’s energy system, which helps the person be in a better state to heal. The treatment is performed while you are fully clothed and either in a seated or reclined position according to your comfort level. An individual session lasts approximately one hour.
Research continues to suggest that Energy Work is helpful in promoting relaxation, reducing pain and managing stress. It is also believed to be effective in speeding tissue and bone healing, as well as strengthening the immune system. Many people describe an increased sense of well-being after a session. Energy Work is used for cancer patients before or after surgery and during chemotherapy or radiation to minimize side effects. It may be effective in dealing with headaches, back and neck pain, bone fractures, anxiety and depression related to diagnosis, high blood pressure, and many other commonly experienced situations. It is useful in combination with traditional medicine as part of an effective health care program.
You are welcome to ask questions of your practitioner or rest quietly during the treatment. The practitioner will move their hands in a gentle motion above the body, or sometimes use a light touch, all to direct the flow of your energy in a positive, relaxing way.
Tuning Into Your Soul
This unique energy session is designed to release and clear stuck energy and negativity from the body while raising the body’s energy using vibration of sound and tuning forks. Your belief systems are integrated into the experience, and the therapist will assist you in strengthening your connection to your inner self and higher consciousness. These energy sessions are approximately one hour in length.
Facials
All facials are provided by a licensed esthetician, and they are designed for both a calming and therapeutic effect. Benefits include moisturizing and nourishing the skin while improving circulation and skin tone. The face, neck, shoulders, and arms are all given a gentle massage during the treatment. No peels or scrubs are used; just gentle products designed to achieve the balancing of skin moisture levels. Facials are scheduled on the hour. To enjoy the full effect of the neck, shoulder, and arm massage, participants will remove garments from the waist up and lay covered under a sheet for the session.
This therapy may help to hydrate and protect the skin, unclog the pores, soothe and calm the skin, and provide an immediate fresh and comfortable feeling. Estheticians are able to offer advice on products that will help the participant keep the results day to day. The service can be essential to cancer patients who notice skin changes during cancer treatment. Estheticians may also help with make-up advice during periods of hair loss, such as eyebrow coloring.
Short-Term Counseling
The counseling program goals include addressing all issues related to cancer treatment, such as: adjustment to the changes in one’s life, the impact the journey has on interpersonal relationships and the family, survivorship anxiety, end-of-life issues, grief, family roles, and others. The sessions are available to registered participants and their family or caregivers. Young children are also appropriate for this service. Family members may take advantage of this service even if their family member experiencing the cancer does not register at the center.
Appointments last one hour, with a three-session limit per incident.
