A practical book written for both health professionals and the layperson, this revised guide deconstructs common myths about the use of massage in cancer treatment. Reviewing literature that shows cancer to be caused by genetic mutation and the influence of hormones, the opening discussion emphasizes that mechanical action such as massage does not break tumors open or cause them to spread. The book purports that the real medical issues for massage therapists center on ameliorating the discomfort of treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. The topics covered include massage in hospitals, in respite care, for the dying, and for exhausted caregivers, with appendices summarizing research on oncology patients and massage. Charts for the adjustment of massage techniques according to the treatment a patient is undergoing are also included.
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"An excellent resource which has long been needed by health professionals." —Bernie Siegel, author, Prescriptions for Living
About the Author
Gayle MacDonald, MS, LMT, supervises massage therapists in the oncology units of Oregon Health and Science University and is the author of Massage for the Hospital Patient and Medically Frail Client. She lives in Portland, Oregon, and Phoenix, Arizona.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
87 of 87 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The American Cancer Society has recently listed Massage as a form of releif of pain for cancer patients. This was a big step and Gayle MacDonald's book is the next step. Often times the touch that cancer patients are recieving is not comforting, it is only related to often painful treatment. To be touched by someone with a compasionate intent is amazing. Gayle exlpains that healing touch is not the ability of a person to literaly touch and cure someone, healing is a sense of peace, a pain free hour, quality of end of life. Gayle does an amazing job of getting thoughts and techniques out to help people wishing to become more educated in this area of massage. Gayle is sharing imortant knowledge and it is written in a way that a student, Massage Therapist of 10 years, or family member of someone with cancer can read and gain an amazing understanding of the best way to treat those with cancer.
39 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I found this book to be a true inspiration for me. I found out about it through one of the Massage magazines and I can honestly say it was one of the best and most important purchaces I made since I graduted from massage school in 1999.
I have used it as a reference while doing volunteer as an LMT on the oncology unit at my local hospital and it was extremely helpful. Staff and students alike were very impressed with it when I showed it to them. The layout of this book is very user friendly and the appendixes and references in the back were excellent.
I personally feel it's a good ideal to get further training related to the oncology in the clincal enviroment as far as massage concerned. Yet this book was also very clear as about the limitaions and contraindications which made me feel at ease. This book is an excellent starting point for thoes wishing to give care to people facing Cancer and is quite thorough in all topic covered. It can help the therapist, student therapist and/or caregiver understand the challenges and rewards of providing the gift of touch at a time when it maybe needed it most.
I have used it as a reference while doing volunteer as an LMT on the oncology unit at my local hospital and it was extremely helpful. Staff and students alike were very impressed with it when I showed it to them. The layout of this book is very user friendly and the appendixes and references in the back were excellent.
I personally feel it's a good ideal to get further training related to the oncology in the clincal enviroment as far as massage concerned. Yet this book was also very clear as about the limitaions and contraindications which made me feel at ease. This book is an excellent starting point for thoes wishing to give care to people facing Cancer and is quite thorough in all topic covered. It can help the therapist, student therapist and/or caregiver understand the challenges and rewards of providing the gift of touch at a time when it maybe needed it most.
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a massage therapist, I was trained that massage was generally contraindicated for cancer patients. Gayle does a wonderful job of explaining why massage is appropriate, the chemistry behind metastisis and the issues around massage treatment along the continuum of cancer treatment. It also has a chapter on death and dying that I recommend to many patients. I have made this a required text in the therapeutic massage program as our local community college.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Get the updated version!
The updated version of this book is so much better than this one. I didn't notice that there was an updated version when I bought it, I was going too quick. Read more
Published 19 days ago by Mo
Yay! for used
I was leary of purchasing an item used but it arrived just when it was supposed to and the binding and pages were clean and crisp. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Crytal
Enlightening, Educational and Earnest
This book was very enlightening for the massage therapist and caregiver because it displays a whole new way of performing massage therapy and how the modalities change from deep to... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Sheila Carlson
Great and important info
Every Licensed massage therapist should have this book. Why? Because a large portion of our population has had a journey with cancer. After they are released from the Dr. Read more
Published on April 3, 2010 by S. Mclaughlin
A wealth of information
Wonderful book! Filled with a wealth of information. If you are a massage therapist , looking to learn more about massage and cancer this is the book.
Published on December 2, 2008 by Jill E. Gonzalez-cass
Medicine Hands: Massage Therapy for People with Cancer
I have been a massage therapist for nearly a quarter of a century. It is wonderful to see a comprehensive book for massage therapists about massage and cancer. Read more
Published on August 28, 2008 by Gregory S. Hurd
ok
I wasnt as impressed by this book i thought it would have more techical information, its sort of wishy washy, or more fluff
Published on August 7, 2008 by De
Enthusiastically recommended supplemental resource for massage...
Now in a newly revised and enlarged edition, Medicine Hands: Massage Therapy for People with Cancer is an in-depth guide to using massage to lessen the deleterious effects of... Read more
Published on April 9, 2007 by Midwest Book Review
RN, LMT, Oncology Massage Therapist
I am taking Gayle MacDonald's Oncology Massage Therapy Certification program courses and her new updates are wonderful! Read more
Published on March 8, 2007 by David E. Talbert
Excellent book, excellent instructor
The non-profit educational institution that I chair just hosted a three-day training for massage therapists with Gayle, and we were the first group to be taught using this newest... Read more
Published on January 22, 2007 by J. Rich
Inside This Book
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs):
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therapy for people with cancer, seated massage, massage plan, systematic touch, medicine hands, affected quadrant, massage research, great mindfulness, less demanding approach, risk for lymphedema, massage students, cancer client, bodywork sessions, scar work, massage group, massage session, touch therapists, touch sessions, living with cancer, touch practitioners, skilled touch, children with cancer, compassionate touch, manual lymphatic drainage, massage strokes Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Massage Adjustments Pressure, Don Hamilton, Swedish Massage, Andy Aryapour, Oncology Nursing Forum, Year Sample Intervention Outcome, Accessed July, Cancer Nursing, Info Box, Touch Research Institute, United States, Accessed June, Polarity Therapy, The True Work of Dying, Therapists Ask, Cancer Symptom Management, Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, Final Gifts, International Journal of Palliative Nursing, Annals of Internal Medicine, Bantam Books, Curties-Overzet Publications, International Journal of Neuroscience, Mister Freeze New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
therapy for people with cancer, seated massage, massage plan, systematic touch, medicine hands, affected quadrant, massage research, great mindfulness, less demanding approach, risk for lymphedema, massage students, cancer client, bodywork sessions, scar work, massage group, massage session, touch therapists, touch sessions, living with cancer, touch practitioners, skilled touch, children with cancer, compassionate touch, manual lymphatic drainage, massage strokes Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Massage Adjustments Pressure, Don Hamilton, Swedish Massage, Andy Aryapour, Oncology Nursing Forum, Year Sample Intervention Outcome, Accessed July, Cancer Nursing, Info Box, Touch Research Institute, United States, Accessed June, Polarity Therapy, The True Work of Dying, Therapists Ask, Cancer Symptom Management, Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, Final Gifts, International Journal of Palliative Nursing, Annals of Internal Medicine, Bantam Books, Curties-Overzet Publications, International Journal of Neuroscience, Mister Freeze New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
7
books
cite this book:
See all 7 books citing this book
- Making Friends with Cancer (P) by Dawn Nelson in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- The Catalyst of Power: The Assemblage Point of Man by Dr. Jon Whale in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- The Art of Stone Healing by Sonia Alexandra on page 36
- The Journey Through Cancer: An Oncologist's Seven-Level Program for Healing and Transforming the Whole Person by Jeremy R. Geffen in Back Matter
- The Key to Cancer by Richard S. Weeder on page 75
See all 7 books citing this book
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