Purpose
To present information and give experience that will create confidence for acupressure practitioners in working with clients who have cancer or are recovering from it.

Curriculum
While looking at the body from an Eastern Medicine point of view, practitioners will learn:

• About cancer and cancer treatments in the 21st century, and how hands on compassionate care such as acupressure and bodywork can assist those living with cancer
• How to support the internal organs during disease, treatment and recovery
• How to address symptoms directly by understanding how the organs “network”
• How to mitigate the side effects of treatment and symptoms of disease, such as low blood counts, nausea, fatigue, neuropathy, weakness in the limbs, and GI tract disorders
• How to strengthen the immune system
• The importance of Ayurvedic oils for cancer care
• The psychological aspects of living with a potentially fatal disease and how that may impact the immune system

Prerequisite
None

Who Should Attend
Acupressure students and practitioners working with clients that are receiving or have completed cancer treatment. The knowledge gained will also be useful and applicable for any therapist with clients presenting similar physical symptoms to those that cancer creates.

Materials: class materials to be provided by instructor
Duration: 3 days, 21 instructional hours  

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ACU-ONCOLOGY 2
Integrating Complementary Therapies

Purpose

To expand on the 'Nature and Spirit of the Organs' and further our knowledge in acupressure and Traditional Chinese Medicine as it applies to cancer care.

Curriculum

• Explore the psychological aspects of the organs: their personalities in terms of likes, dislikes and emotions
• Understand the ways in which Lung, Liver and Heart relate to spirit
• Establish a direct relationship between what each organ influences physically to the human behavior it also regulates
• Enhancement of bodywork protocol: specific acupressure points to address different signs & symptoms of disease and treatments
• Roxabustion™ ~ integrating hot stones to acupressure points along with Indian ayurvedic oils
• Energy fields & cancer: working with chakras and sound; exploring sound as a healing tool and how it has been used for cancer care
• Practice with volunteer clients living with cancer.

Prerequisite
Acu-Oncology Massage I

Who Should Attend
Students interested in deepening their knowledge as how to address signs and symptoms through acupressure.

Materials: class materials to be provided by instructor
Duration: 4 days, 28 hours

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ACU-ONCOLOGY MASSAGE 3
Working with Cancer, Understanding Trauma

Purpose
In this class we will be exploring how the cancer experience may lead to trauma for the central nervous system.

Curriculum

• The physiology, biochemistry and symptoms of trauma
• Situations in which having cancer and treatments may be perceived as "danger" for the body
• Useful forms of bodywork, including acupressure, to approach symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Appropriate communication to use when interacting with a client in a state of trauma.

Prerequisite
Acu-Oncology Massage I & Acu-Oncology Massage II

Who Should Attend
Acupressure therapists developing a practice with cancer patients.

Materials: class materials to be provided by instructor
Duration: 4 days, 28 hours

MASSAGE FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH CANCER©
(originated by Gayle MacDonald)

Purpose
To present information and give experience that will create confidence in bodyworkers about working with clients who have cancer or are recovering from it.

Curriculum
Comfort-oriented massage or touch can be administered to people with cancer regardless of the severity of their condition, and at any stage in the cancer experience.

• Understanding metastasis. Why is massage not contraindicated? Adaptations that must be made for clients who have undergone or are undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery Massage protocol for patients at risk for lymphedema Exploration and processing of participants' personal experience and relationship to cancer Intake procedures
• Most importantly, opening the heart to those with serious illness.

Massage therapists and spas completing training may be eligible for a webpage referral list of approved massage therapists qualified to perform the Massage for People Living with Cancer© "do-no-harm" protocol.We will learn how to utilize these skills by providing massages to cancer patients under supervision of the instructor as the culminating activity of the class.

Who Should Attend
This course is open to licensed, certified, or professional massage therapists, massage students enrolled in a professional training program who have completed Swedish Massage I or the equivalent, bodyworkers certified in other non-invasive, gentle modalities, or by permission of the instructor. This class is to assist therapists working with clients that are receiving or have completed cancer treatment. The knowledge gained will also be useful and applicable for any therapist with clients presenting similar physical symptoms.

Materials: class materials to be provided by instructor
Duration: 22 hours of credit

Accreditation: approved by the NCBTMB under Category A
Massage therapists and spas completing Massage for People Living with Cancer© training may be eligible for a webpage referral list of approved oncology massage therapists.

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