Oncology Massage Matters
~ CLASSES ~
Massage for People Living with Cancer©
originated by Gayle MacDonald
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Oncology Massage 1
Blending East with West™
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Oncology Massage 2
Integrating Complementary Therapies
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Oncology Massage 3
Working with Cancer, Understanding Trauma
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Cancer Basics
co-taught with Connie Kishbaugh, R.N.
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Oncology Massage Clinic ~ Practicum
co-taught with Kathie Nelson
~ Other Recommended Related Classes ~
NEW-Just Added: • Opening to the Mystery: Caring for Clients at the End of Life
Lauren Muser Cates, CMT/LMT, NCTMB
November 19-21, 2010 at the Massage Therapy Institute, Davis
• Gentle Scar Tissue Mobilization Techniques
For the Post-Mastectomy and Radiation Treatment Client
Jamie Elswick, LMT, NCBTMB
• Gentle Scar Tissue Mobilization Techniques ~ Advanced
For the Post-Mastectomy and Radiation Treatment Client
Jamie Elswick, LMT, NCBTMB
at the Massage Therapy Institute, Davis
• Manual Lymphatic Drainage Certification Program
René Janiece, LMT, NCTMB, CLT
May 29 - June 3, 2010 at the Massage Therapy Institute, Davis
• Massage in the Oncology Setting:
A 5-day Hospital Intensive
Gayle MacDonald, MS, LMT
MASSAGE FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH CANCER©
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 (originated by Gayle MacDonald)
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.
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Understanding metastasis. Why is massage not contraindicated?
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Adaptations that must be made for clients who have undergone or are undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery
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Massage protocol for patients at risk for lymphedema
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Exploration and processing of participants' personal experience and relationship to cancer
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Intake procedures
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Most importantly, opening the heart to those with serious illness.
The culminating activity of the class is to give a relaxation massage to someone with cancer or a history of it.
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.
Materials: class materials to be provided by instructor
Duration: 24 hours of credit
Accreditation: Approved by the NCBTMB
The Society for Oncology Massage recognizes this course and instructor as part of their application for professional membership.
ONCOLOGY MASSAGE 1
Blending East with West™
Purpose
This class will allow body therapists to enhance their work with cancer patients by integrating Reflexology and Acupressure skills with protocols in regard to pressure adjustments, sites that need to be avoided and client positioning.
Curriculum
While looking at the body from an Eastern Medicine point of view, practitioners will learn:
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How to support the internal organs during disease, treatment and recovery
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How to address symptoms more directly by understanding how the organs “network”
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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
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How to strengthen the immune system
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The importance of Ayurvedic oils for cancer care
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The psychological aspects of living with a potentially fatal disease and how that may impact the immune system
Prerequisite
Any Society for Oncology Massage (s4om.org) recognized foundation course.
Who Should Attend
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: 3 days, 22 instructional hours (21 instructional hours in Berkeley)
ONCOLOGY MASSAGE 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
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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 massage protocol: specific acupressure points to address different signs & symptoms of disease and treatments
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Integrate hot stones with Indian ayurvedic oils to address conditions related to disease and treatments
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Study sound as a healing tool and how it has been used for cancer care
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Practice with volunteer clients living with cancer.
Prerequisite
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: 5 days 40 hours
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
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The physiology, biochemistry and symptoms of trauma
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Situations in which having cancer and treatments may be perceived as "danger" for the body
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Useful forms of bodywork, including acupressure, to approach symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
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Appropriate communication to use when interacting with a client in a state of trauma.
Prerequisite
Oncology Massage I &
Oncology Massage II
Who Should Attend
Body therapists developing a practice with cancer patients.
Materials: class materials to be provided by instructor
Duration:
5 days 40 hours at the Massage Therapy Institute
CANCER BASICS
East and West Meeting
Instructors
Isabel Adkins (see bio)
Connie Kishbaugh, R.N. Center for Cancer Spirit Healing
Connie has been an oncology nurse for more than 30 years. During that time she has cared for patients all along the disease spectrum. She has extensive experience in chemotherapy side effect management, pain and symptom management, and educational and emotional counseling with the cancer patient, and has been involved in many studies focusing not only on new and innovational cancer treatments, but also on new ways of providing emotional support to the patient and family members receiving research treatment.
Connie has long had an interest in the mind-body-spirit connection, and an understanding of the powerful force this can be for the cancer patient.
Purpose
This class is designed to give the oncology massage therapist an in depth understanding of the cancer process, from the malignant cell and how it becomes so, to the effect of the disease process on each individual organ and the body as a whole. This information will be presented as a dialogue between Western and Eastern medicine perspectives.
Curriculum
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Identify the body systems affected by cancer in each organ discussed
- Define the most likely sites of metastasis from the original tumor site
- Identify side effects of standard chemotherapy agents
- Correlate the Eastern and Western medicine components of information in developing a massage plan
- Identify oncologic emergencies and know the action to be taken.
Prerequisite
Oncology Massage I (Oncology Massage II recommended)
Who Should Attend
Body therapists developing a practice with cancer patients.
Materials: class materials to be provided by instructors
Duration:
3 days, 24 hours
ONCOLOGY MASSAGE CLINIC
Practicum
Instructors
Isabel Adkins (see bio)
Kathie Nelson, M.S., C.M.T. Kathie Nelson teaches one day of this class on "Basic Principles of Swedish Massage for the Medically Frail".
Moved by the healing power of touch experienced after attending a weekend retreat entitled ‘Anointing the Body’ given by Mary Ann Finch, founder of Care through Touch, Kathie continued her studies with Mary Ann in caring for the elderly, the ill and the dying using modified Swedish massage techniques. A few years later when introduced to oncology massage therapy, Kathie felt her heart open even more. She studied with two leaders in this emerging field, Isabel Adkins, BA, CMT, and subsequently Gayle MacDonald, MS, LMT for on-site hospital training. This specialty dovetailed in an oblique way with her other career as a clinical laboratory scientist, specializing in matched platelet transfusions, and solid organ and bone marrow transplants.
Kathie maintains an active private massage practice, the majority of which are oncology clients. She has taught oncology massage and supervised hospital based student massage clinics for the Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Cancer Center. She is a one of the founding advisors in creating free oncology massage clinics in Grass Valley and in Sacramento. She actively donates her time to both clinics, which includes working with oncology clients and training new volunteers.
Purpose
In this class we will be gaining hands-on supervised experience.
Curriculum
Students will be able to work on cancer patients, practicing the knowledge and skills acquired in Oncology I or II. Each day will end with a group discussion of cases worked.
Prerequisite
Oncology Massage I
Who Should Attend
Body therapists developing a practice with cancer patients.
Materials: class materials to be provided by instructors
Duration:
4 days, 32 hours
Massage therapists who wish to apply for Professional Membership with the Society for Oncology Massage, if they meet the background requirments, may use this course to meet the four hours of hands-on training requirement ("additional Oncology Massage training").