“My survival alone was a miracle.” Diagnosed in 2002 with a life threatening head and neck cancer, Liam Ryan’s doctors told him he should have never survived.…
By Melissa Baun
Nearly 60% of all patients being treated for cancer receive radiation. The radiation may be in combination with chemotherapy and surgery or used as an individual treatment. The strength of radiation varies for individuals and their diagnosis. What many patients are unaware of is the formation of scar tissue that often occurs post treatment.
What is Scar Tissue?
Scar tissue is a thicker, less pliable tissue than normal muscle and fascia tissue. It tends to feel “stiff” in the area where the scar tissue forms and is often painful to varying degrees. Scar tissue forms within 6 months of stopping radiation, with the majority forming between 3 months to 6 months post radiation. In some cases it can continue to grow even after 6 months. Depending on where the radiation is being given, sometimes, you are given exercises to do while receiving radiation to keep the area flexible. This is common in head and neck cancers that are being radiated.
Women who have had radiation to their breasts often feel a tightness, stiffness and “tender to touch” feeling and a hardening of tissue in their breast. Only after a doctor has confirmed that the area is indeed scar tissue should you proceed with scar tissue therapy. Much can be done to help break down this thick tissue. Some of it will break down naturally with movement but often, additional treatment is necessary.
Treatment
When working with your massage therapist for scar tissue reduction, the treatment should be very interactive. A constant monitoring of pain level and pressure level is necessary. Many women do not have full feeling in their breasts after surgery, so it is especially important for the therapist to be aware of this.
Lymphadema
Also, lymphadema precautions need to be taken when necessary. Almost all of my patients notice a difference with the first treatment. The treatment is usually very direct with quick results. I like to begin with some lymphatic drainage, then warming up the breast with some gentle effleurage and circular kneading. I use slightly warm basalt rocks to warm the scar tissue, and then begin more intricate work on smaller sections of the breast. Much of the work is repetitive friction, kneading and lymphatic drainage. The most common response is some slight pain the next day followed by a release that allows for a feeling of less restriction and greater range of motion in the area.
I am an advocate of teaching my patients how to work on their scar tissue at home. This makes each visit to me more effective with greater results. It normally takes several treatments to break down the bulk of the scar tissue, and once under control, it is still a good idea to have follow-ups every 6 months or so, as the scar tissue does often return.
“My survival alone was a miracle.” Diagnosed in 2002 with a life threatening head and neck cancer, Liam Ryan’s doctors told him he should have never survived.…
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Anti-Cancer ClubOctober 270
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Melissa’s primary work is devoted to oncology massage, which also includes mastectomy and lumpectomy medical massage, and pain management massage.
Working in health care all her life, mostly in administration, she began to look into Integrative Medicine while her father was in treatment for cancer.
After graduation, Melissa spent 3 years working with Abington Memorial Hospital’s Integrative Medicine Department, ( Abington, PA). The past eleven years, Melissa has worked in Integrative Wellness @ the Spa at Cornerstone in Warrington, Pennsylvania.
Having lost a large number of family members and friends to various types of cancer, Melissa has made it her mission to be an advocate for integrative massage to all health care professionals. Having witnessed firsthand, on an almost daily basis how massage can offer a better quality of life to the person living with cancer, she believes that everyone going through the treatment of this disease deserves nothing less than oncology massage (along with other integrative modalities) to help them feel better…..until we have a better way of treating this disease.
Melissa has just finished studies to become a continuing education provider for oncology massage to other licensed massage therapists.
Contact Melissa at www.cornerstoneclubs.com or at 215-918-5950.
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