QuestionI recently read an answer to someone's question concerning whether deep tissue massage can spread cancer through the body. I can not find the original person to reply to but his reply made sense.He stated in brief: refer to pg. 502, "For many years it has been assumed that circulatory types of massage carry the risk of aiding the process of metastasis by boosting blood and lymph flow. Research shows, however, that cancerous growths can take years to become established before they are detectable by palpation. It seems farfetched to suppose that a 60-minute massage could contribute to that process any more significantly than a brisk walk around the block or a long hot shower. Nonetheless, it is obviously inappropriate to rub on a tumor or any undiagnosed swelling or thickening of tissue.
So, after reviewing the above, IMHO I would suggest that massage would probably benefit the client as long as you avoid the areas of cancer involvement. Also the same for ultrasound (using soundwaves to detect abnormalities in body).
My question is he saying that ultrasound is harmful? I thought that ultrasound was a safe procedure used by Physical Therapists and also to diagnose whether or not something could be cancerous.
AnswerHi Sally and thanks for your question!
I have been expecting this question reluctantly for the last 15 years and find it difficult to answer accurately for following reasons.
I am also a medical person and go through medical journals very carefully to analyze the pros and cons of massage in relation to 'in situ' pre-cancerous lesions or cancerous tumors.
I really have to base my answer on facts and studies not on suppositions.
If the treatment is of a palliative nature where the patient has been declared as untreatable by the medical profession, what extra bad can a soothing massage do to these poor clients? (I'm not avoiding the ultrasound question because it applies to both cancer and ultrasound)
Although it might make sense that cancer lesions can be spread to other parts of the body, I find it hard to believe because
1/ blood and circulation alone can carry cancerous cells from a tumor to other parts of the body without the aid of massage or US therapy.
2/ Since the spread of cancer in a patient cannot be isolated medically due to a massage the client has taken, i still feel that it is inadvisable to massage a patient without a proper consent form. The least a massage therapist wants is to be sued for spreading cancer. (These cases have already been shunned by the courts since there is not medical proof that states that massage or US therapy can spread cancer) Its still in the supposition stage and any massage undertaken by therapists on these clients is purely done in good faith without malpractice or gross negligence in mind.
Therefore to answer your question, and until medical scholars have proved otherwise, ultrasound is considered safe in cancerous patients. There is nothing that a medical practitioner would knowingly do to harm patients.
Hope this is clear. If you have any follow ups, I will be pleased to answer!
Jeremy
