Cancer Patients

[spakkat]

Hi All
I have been asked if i would like to do some volunteer work with a chairty that is being set up in my town. The charity will offer subsidised spa days for women with cancer (subsidised by well-women who will pay for their visits), the idea is that the women will visit the spa for the day having the option of 4 treatments, stay for lunch and have a swim etc. The organiser has asked if i would like to be their Reflexologist! (no pay unfortunateley but they will cover my expenses which suits me).

I visited the spa this afternoon (its in the grounds of the organisers home) and have come away feeling excited and definately wanting to be involved.

The only thing that is causing me concern is that i havent qualified in any 'post graduate' courses for working with people who have cancer. Does this matter?

I have had cancer myself (will have been in remission for 2 years in February)so know 1st hand how difficult everything can be for these women, i feel that this opportunity has come looking for me and would be really gutted if i had to pass it up due to lack of qualifications.

If you've got this far, thanks for reading!
Any advice?
RR
x

 

[xhefduvdilkiqvefu]

I shouldn't think you need specific training to deal with cancer patients. (I do voluntary work in a similar capacity and the only thing they wanted was to check my insurance, qualifications and criminal database thing.)

 

[Georgia Stewart]

Thanks for your reply! its helped put my mind at rest.

 

[xaqtizteq]

I'm not a reflexologist but I do work with the local breast care support group which offers patients access to various complementary therapies. My understanding from the breast care nurses is that treatments do need to be tailored for the stage of treatment that a patient is in, and they do check that the therapist knows how to accomodate the illness and the treatment, e.g. there are stages of treatment where you wouldn't do any work around the lymph glands.

Otherwise, being involved with people going through this or any other illness is so rewarding and I hope you enjoy it as much as they undoubtedly will!

 

[Pompal 09.]

Just a quick addendum - I talked with a newly qualified massage therapist the other day in another capacity, and she said that she'd been taught that she shouldn't give massage to anyone with cancer because "you might move it around the body and make them worse". Doh!

 

[mikezz]

Hi ya RR

I have worked in the past in a hospice, mainly using reflexology.

Reflexology should be really light touch, not to much pressure to avoid healing crisis especially under strong medication.

If reflexology, massage and other bodywork therapies pushes cancer around the body, how come many hospices now have a complementary therapy department? This idea of spreading cancer hasn't to knowledge been proven. There is a lot of scaremongering within complementary health.

There is a wonderful book called "Medicine Hands" by Gayle MacDonald which I would recommend you read based on hardcore experience of cancer patients and bodywork.

Some of the benefits of reflexology in this context is:

Holistic care for body, mind and spirit.

Touch with unconditional love which many cancer patients are often deprived of.

Working reflexes of the feet and hands helps areas of the body that may not be touchable with other therapies (ie abdominal massage not a good idea after bowel surgery). Reflexology can turn contraindications into indications!

Best Wishes

Reiki Pixie

 

[xXBlackRoseXx]

i still hear things like this and i find it frustrating. Basic training taught us to give light reflexology to ill, frail or very toxic people so i'd already explained to the organiser that my treatments wouldnt be intense deep ones.

thanks for the book reccommendation, i'll look into that.

I'll report back on how it goes.
RRx