Re: Which spa services to avoid?

[Guest guest]

My oncologist in Denver said no deep tissue massage.

Regular is okay.

[Guest guest]

I'd advise you to avoid any spa service that features harp music.

[Guest guest]

I can't see how message (deep or otherwise), saunas,

jacuzzis, or exercise would be harmful assuming your counts

are OK (especially platelets) and your nodes aren't huge or

tender. Am I missing something?

[Guest guest]

,

I have often been told " no massages " for my husband and have

wondered if it is myth or fact-based?

The reason I was given is that it stimulates the lymphatic

system and can " push " lymphocytes out of nodes into

bloodstream.

Another explanation was that massage stimulates cells and

can make any cancer grow, so no one should be massaged

anywhere near a tumor.

Neither have been told to me by a medical professional, and

I have not bothered to ask our doctor, as I am the one who

wants a massage, not my husband.

As you are a doctor, perhaps you can put this oft-cited

reasons to rest one way or the other.

Heléne

[Guest guest]

I asked this question my 1st visit to OSU with Dr Byrd and

he told me there was no problem. I was having a full body

therapeutic massage done every other week. My therapist

retired so this reminds me I need to find another.

What ever is relaxing and soothes the mind especially in W & W

is what I do. When I have been especially over anxious I

found that acupuncture helped me. I am petrified of needles

and spiders. But if I am over the top, what ever those

needles stimulate, I could have the worse person in my face

during the first 72 hrs after and I wouldn't care what they

were saying. I would say always find the best in your area

if you do it and someone with many years of experience. Hope

that helps.

Dana

[Guest guest]

There is no problem with CLL patients, or any lymphoma

patients, receiving massages. The massage does not push the

lymphocytes into the peripheral blood nor change anything

about the disease.

Rick Furman, MD

> I have often been told " no massages " for my husband and have

> wondered if it is myth or fact-based?

>

> The reason I was given is that it stimulates the lymphatic

> system and can " push " lymphocytes out of nodes into

> bloodstream.

>

> Another explanation was that massage stimulates cells and

> can make any cancer grow, so no one should be massaged

> anywhere near a tumor.

[Guest guest]

,

What platelet count would not be ok for a massage?

Mine hover around 110.

Thanks

Lynn

>

> I can't see how message (deep or otherwise), saunas,

> jacuzzis, or exercise would be harmful assuming your counts

> are OK (especially platelets) and your nodes aren't huge or

> tender. Am I missing something?

>

[Guest guest]

Lynn,

110, 000 should be OK, but you might bruise with deep tissue

worker. Not dangerous. My platelets are over 350,000 and I

still sometimes bruise from the deep " rub downs " that my

trainer inflicts after I finish " pumping iron "