massage

CJAY

does anyone know how to find out about free or reduced price massages for cancer patients? i am currently in chemo and get a massage occassionally, when i can afford it, but think i would benefit from a more regular treatment.

Anonymous

I hear ya, CJAY! I'm almost 2 years out and wish that I could afford at least a weekly massage. It did amazing things for me during chemo. We have a local massage therapist who actually takes every Wednesday off from his work to come to our cancer center (UNC- Chapel Hill, NC) to give free massages. He is so good that I became a paying customer of his following tx. But I couldn't continue to afford him (I could continue going to the hospital weekly if I want, but it's inconvenient) and then he retired his private practice to paint full time.

I wonder if your local chapter of the American Cancer Society or any other local cancer resource could tell you about special deals or freebies for cancer patients..? Have you tried that route?

Marin

Cynthia1962

I could really use a free massage, too.

Marin - how did massage help you and what type of chemo did you have? I'm halfway through Taxotere and my poor muscles feel so weak and tired. I'm wondering if there's anything I can do to make my muscles feel better. Stretching seems to make it worse.

Cynthia

Anonymous

Cynthia...I had DD AC+T and did pretty well with it. The neupogen that I injected for 5 days following each infusion did cause some pain in my hips and lower back and my legs fatigued fairly easily (I attribute this to the chemo itself). It's the first time in my life that I truly understood the expression 'bone tired.' Now I don't know how much of it was actual physical relief and how much psychological, but massage seemed to ease the pain and weakness significantly. Of course, the message therapist is a low-key, centered kind of guy and I think that this, his personality, communicated itself and was very calming. So whatever it was about massage that helped me, I'd like more of it!

Marin

bomber410

I don't know about where you all live but if you have a massage school nearby, they offer reduced price massage. The students are well trained by the time they get to this clinical stage with real customers. Your other option is to see about some kind of barter with a local massage therapist. I know these aren't the exact answers you were looking for.