Massage practice offering free sessions to cancer patients undergoing treatment

Friday, September 2, 2011

BEDFORD – Sometimes the greatest physical and emotional healing can come from the gentle touch of another.

That’s why, starting in September, Therapy Designed for You LLC will offer free half-hour massage appointments for patients currently receiving treatments for cancer.

“Sometimes massage is looked at as a luxury, something you do for your birthday or an anniversary, but so much of it is health care-related, related to psychological stress,” Jeanie Gorski, LMT, NCMT, said.

The clinical massage therapy practice, located at the Advanced Injury Treatment Center on Palomino Lane in Bedford, offers therapeutic massage and self-care instruction for people with migraines, pre- and post-knee surgeries, athletes, and others suffering injuries from extended physical activity or travel, among other issues, Gorski said.

Gorski and Diane Rondeau, LMT, recently underwent a 32-hour oncology massage training course in Massachusetts to be able to offer massage therapy to cancer patients.

“It affects you emotionally, when you’re going through those cancer treatments,” Gorski said. “Everything done to you is so abusive and abrasive. This is something really gentle and kind and loving. It can help decrease the effect of fatigue and nausea, and it gives you a little more energy. It can help with the mental stress and the depression related to the disease – you can feel like a normal person, to some extent.”

The therapeutic massage sessions, normally $40 for a half-hour, $65 for an hour, will be available for patients being treated for cancer, free of charge, through September and potentially October depending on the demand, Gorski said.

“So many people have tight budgets right now,” Gorski said. “Typically, when people are going through a traumatic illness like this, money is even tighter. We don’t want anyone to feel they are exempted from it if they really want to get it and are in need.”

The therapy session is completely customized to the patient’s needs, Gorski said. Anybody can go through the therapy, depending on what stage of cancer they’re experiencing. The more fragile a person’s condition, the more Therapy Designed For You works with the patient’s oncology providers and health care team.

“We only want to do good for the client; we want everyone to be on the same page of what we’re doing,” Gorski said. “It’s lighter pressure. We stroke everything to relieve the body’s symptoms ... It’s really kind of how you would soothe a baby, and being really gentle and calming and slower so the body can get into the rhythm of the massage.”

Therapists work one-on-one with patients, who can be bolstered up with extra pillows if needed for support, Gorski said. The clinic plays calming music and uses table warmers and blankets if the patient gets cold easily. And if the patients do not feel comfortable undressing for the massage, they can come fully dressed in sweatpants and be treated, Gorski said.

If the cancer has progressed to the point where patients cannot come into the clinic, Gorski said Therapy Designed For You can make home calls.

“So much of what people go through when going through cancer treatment, depending on the type, is the emotional component,” Gorski said. “Some are facing death, and you’re with them through that journey, and you have to be prepared for that.”

The massage therapy is also extremely helpful for those in remission, Gorski said.

Cancer patients interested in the free massage therapy sessions may be eligible for two or three treatments, depending on the situation, Gorski said.

To register, patients should contact Therapy Designed For You in advance to set up the initial screening process, which can take a few days, Gorski said. During the screening, therapists find out which cancer patients are dealing with, where they are in their treatment process, how long ago the treatment last occurred and what side effects they are experiencing. Massage therapy is scheduled based on the cancer treatment schedule, Gorski said.

“If someone’s just starting out treatments, the massage is almost normal but the pressure is lighter,” Gorski said. “If they’re going through chemo or radiation, usually you wouldn’t treat someone post-surgical up to six to eight weeks because the body is taxed and needs time to recover.”

Once the person starts, the frequency of the massage sessions revolve around the treatment schedule as well.

The reaction it has on patients is overwhelming, Gorski said.

“At the training we took, the last day the teacher brought in people who are cancer patients, and some of them were quite uncomfortable – distressed and tired,” Gorski said. “After an hour with music and loving attention, they got off the table and looked like they’re on cloud nine. They usually want to hug you because it’s such a positive thing in their day when they’re looking at another 3 or 4 weeks sitting in another chemotherapy room. It’s a positive, pleasant experience.”

Gorski, who has watched her own family members suffer from cancer, said she witnessed the healing in simple, gentle massage for them.

“I saw how massaging their feet or hands or putting lotion on their hands or arms calmed their whole system,” Gorski said. “You could watch the equipment and see the heart rate drop.

“You feel like you can do something positive, where it’s a horrible situation and no one should have to go through it.”

For more information, visit www.message-etc.com; contact Gorski at 721-9326 and jeanie@massage-etc.com; or contact Rondeau at 540-8967 and drondeau1@massage.etc.

Maryalice Gill can be reached at 594-6490 or mgill@nashuatelegraph.com.