This is probably a bit trivial but it is bugging me. I had surgery in May 2012. Got clear margins and 5 lymph nodes were all clear. This was followed by 21 sessions of rads in August and now taking anastrozle which has given me some joint stiffness but as far as I am concerned I feel it is a small price to pay.
Recently A friend bought me a voucher for a facial and a massage at a very posh salon near where I live. When I filled in the health questionnaire they were really apologetic but said they couldnt give me massages on any parts of my body because I had a history of breast cancer.
As far as I’m concerned I was one of the lucky ones and can put it all behind me and move on so what logical reason can there be as to why I cant be treated to a relaxing massage?
Not off topic at all - this is one of the things that pops up form time to time.
There is an old wives tale that cancer can be spread by massage - it’s a load of old twaddle but a lot of spas seem to believe it and in this age of litigation they don’t want someone coming back years alter blaming them for causing the cancer to spread.
Having said that, I was told that deep massage is not suitable for people with lymphoedema risk - at least on the affected arm/side and that there are some essential oils that are best avoided if you have/had ER+ breast cancer (notably lavender).
Just about every cancer support centre offer massages - and oncologists would not be happy with this if they thought there was a risk to health.
I think some spas are a bit more realistic and allow you to have treatments if you are two years plus on from diagnosis.
Sorry, I think it’s really pants, and hope you are able to find some treatments they will allow (e.g. Head massage or reflexology).
Hi All I can say is that I had massages at the Mc Millan Centre ( 4 free ones ) when I was having active treatment. Since then I have had massages abroad ( as part of the free spa treatments ) for my hollibobs and here in UK I have made extensive enquirires about this too. I do not like Sport type massages (and never have) I have spoken to my Onc and the specialist Lymphoedema nurse at my clinic regarding this and they were all agreeable that there was not an issue with massages facial or otherwise. Obviously I would never put myself at danger of having further cancer probs.
I understand that the issue regarding moving lymph/cancer cells is contentious J
first of all please don’t let this cause you to worry about things you can’t now alter.
Lavender is one of the plants that contains high level of plant oestrogens (phyto-oestrogens) which can mimic human oestrogen. There is all sorts of conflicting information out there about phyto-oestrogens and their beneficial or harmful potential in relation to ER+ breast cancer. Lavender essential oils, used in aromatherapy and some massage are (or were at the time I was told this!) discouraged because of their potentate, maybe theoretical rather than actual to be harmful. If you ask two oncologists you will probably get three opinions n this, and there may be newer research that has other findings.
I know the bio-oil and other scar treatment oils have a small amount of lavender in them, as does sudocreme (which I used during my chemo quite unaware of this) and I know that some surgeons/doctors are pro- and some agin their use.
For me it is an avoidable risk as alternatives are available. But not one to lose sleep over. Hope that helps.