Director’s Message

In over eleven years of practicing massage, I’ve worked with many clients who have cancer, along with cancer survivors. I’ve volunteered my chair-massage services to local cancer organizations for fund-raising events. I’ve also donated full-body massages to patients of a local breast cancer oncologist as a way of showing my support.

In the summer of 2007, I developed a massage program for Elizabeth Wende Breast Care, LLC—a natural progression of my interest in helping cancer patients. I manage the program and its staff of six massage therapists, and 10% of the program’s profits go to local cancer charities. This program, along with my other work and personal experiences, has really opened my eyes to the needs of people with cancer.

I’ve also learned a lot from sitting down with the directors of local cancer charities, and from attending an oncology massage seminar at Sloan Kettering Memorial Research Hospital in Manhattan. It’s become clear to me that integrative therapies—including oncology massage, manual lymph drainage, movement therapy and guided meditation—can alleviate or reduce many symptoms and side affects of cancer, such as pain, stress, anxiety and depression. The same therapies can also decrease pain, relieve symptoms of lymph edema and provide supportive care in a more personalized, non-medical capacity. Providers of these therapies offer solace, are a source of strength and give their patients ways to replenish their spirit. Another benefit is to the patients’ caregivers, who find an ally in their efforts to comfort their loved ones.

But I’ve also learned there are three main obstacles that keep cancer patients from accessing integrative therapies. They include:

• Patients/doctors may not know about the value of these therapies, or may have misinformation about their effectiveness in alleviating symptoms.
• Patients/doctors don’t know who in their local community is trained to safely work with cancer patients.
• Patients can’t afford these therapies.

Many cancer patients face mounting medical bills and have uncertainty about their financial stability during and after treatment. For some patients, accessing therapies that aren’t covered by health insurance is out of the question. In the meantime, prominent research hospitals, including Sloan Kettering Memorial Research Hospital in Manhattan, are compiling increasing evidence that shows these therapies relieve the many side affects of cancer and its treatment. It is the Human Touch Initiative’s mission to provide those facing cancer with every advantage they need to stay strong, resolved and focused, through body, mind and spirit.

Kim Ross, LMT, Executive Director, Human Touch Initiative