Esophageal Cancer Massage Therapy

If the method of traditional treatment for the cancer is not that effective in curing the esophageal cancer or if the decision is taken to try for some different therapies for alleviating the symptoms of the esophageal cancer, the patient can talk to his doctor about the complementary and alternative medicine – CAM. Such kind of therapies can be used to replace or supplement the traditional method of treatment for the esophageal cancer.

Apart from the traditional treatments of esophageal cancer like radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery, there are various kinds of therapy that will help in treating or managing the side effects and the symptoms of the esophageal cancer and the treatment of the cancer. Some of these treatments have been tested meticulously as the conventional therapies, but they seem to be very safe when given by the experienced practitioner. Whether these supplementary therapies are advantageous for a quantity of various cancers is a big question that is being put under investigation in a broad range of studies aided by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Some of the therapies included in the CAM are – acupuncture, meditation, aromatherapy, massage and yoga.

The techniques of massage differ from mild massaging of the muscles to the deep pressure massaging. The massage will help in relieving the anxiety, stress and pain by making the body to relax. The massage will also help the patients in managing fatigue which is a general side effect of the esophageal cancer and the treatment for cancer.

Many people who seek rehabilitation therapy are women getting better from the breast cancer after the surgery. Frequently, this surgery needs the lymph glands removal or the structures that control the lymphatic fluid flow through the lymphatic vessels. The non availability of the lymph glands can create more lymphatic fluid to collect in the extremities of the patient that may lead to more infection. This is called as lymph edema and it happens in more than 30% of the women who receives the surgery of radical mastectomy. This may also be the side effect of the other cancer that involves elimination of the lymph nodes.

If a person is very nervous in getting the massage, he should bear in mind that having a massage during the treatment for the cancer may have intense positive effects. A well qualified and trained therapist will concern the well being and the safety of the patient in the following areas.

The duration and the depth of the work if the patient has received chemotherapy within few days before massage, extraordinary techniques if the patient is at the end of his life and also in the care of hospital, the importance in helping to develop the shoulder and the arm range of movement in case of patients with the breast cancer and lastly techniques for helping the scars to get healed in any of the location and also to embrace the journey of the patient and also to improve his body structure and self esteem.