Join Us In Raising Awareness For Leukemia and Lymphoma
September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month. This is a time when we all come together to raise awareness locally about our efforts in fighting different types of blood cancer.
To raise awareness for this cause, we’re doing a deep dive into discussing two of the most common blood cancers. We will discuss how massage therapy can alleviate symptoms associated with these cancers as well as symptoms caused by cancer treatments. We will also share what our team is doing locally to help people get the care they need.
What is Leukemia? What is Lymphoma?
Leukemia and Lymphoma are two types of cancer that affect a person’s blood or bone marrow. Leukemia is a type of blood cancer that affects the bone marrow and lymphoma is a cancer that starts in the lymphatic system.
Unfortunately, they are all too prevalent in our society:
- The American Association for Cancer Research estimates there will be 60,650 new cases of Leukemia in 2022.
- The American Cancer Society estimates about 80,470 people will be diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (one type of lymphoma) in 2022.
How Are Leukemia and Lymphoma Treated?
There are several types of drugs, surgeries, and radiation treatments for fighting these two blood cancers. In addition, some people incorporate complementary therapies (such as yoga, massage therapy, or acupuncture) to complement their primary method of treatment. While these alternative therapies don’t take the place of the primary treatment, they have been shown to relieve symptoms associated with them.
In particular, massage therapy has been shown to ease some of the side effects of cancer and its treatment. There is a specific modality of massage known as oncology massage that’s specifically designed for patients undergoing or recovering from cancer.
Oncology massage is not just a technique. It is a comprehensive approach that involves thorough assessment and adjustments to standard massage modalities. It is a modification of existing massage techniques that allows a massage therapist to work safely with the complications of cancer and cancer care. A massage therapist trained in oncology massage will prioritize meeting the patient where they’re at both mentally and physically.
Some benefits of oncology massage can include reducing pain, nausea, fatigue, and improving sleep quality. Massage is also good in general for inducing a physiological relaxation response. These are only a few of the reasons why people choose to incorporate massage therapy into their care plans while going through cancer treatment.
Raising Awareness in the Atlanta Area
Vinings Massage & Wellness offers oncology massage to the local Atlanta region. Our oncology team (from left to right: Aaron, Eslyne, Cara, and Erin) works with patients in many different environments. They visit:
- Atlanta hospitals
- Wellness centers
- Client’s homes to work with patients that may be bed-bound or receiving at-home treatment
Our team also goes on-site at Piedmont Hospital and visits patients who are receiving active treatment. Participation in this program is available free of charge to any individual experiencing cancer.
Massage can make a huge difference for people undergoing cancer treatment. There are many opportunities in the local Atlanta region to incorporate massage therapy into a cancer treatment plan.
If you or a loved one is currently undergoing cancer treatment and wish to learn more about oncology massage, contact our team today and we can provide you with additional information.
