Massage

[Clsmith]

Feeling achy all over. Still waiting for my initial appointment with oncologist ( nearly two weeks and nothing from my g.p.) Wondering about having a massage...yes or no. I have heard that it is not recommended with some cancers. I just don't know .

[devonrr]

My hospital physio wouldn't give me a massage for my leg/muscle problem but my lympocytes were around 200. She was frightened  the massage would cause excessive bruising.

[AussieNeil Administrator in reply to devonrr]

Your physio obviously didn't know the different effect of low platelets from high lymphocytes, but at least she was cautious.  Provided your platelet count was in the normal range, you wouldn't need to worry about bruising.

[AussieNeil Administrator]

CLL cells are already spread throughout your body via your bloodstream, so it's not as if you are going to encourage metastasising through massaging a solid tumour.  Even that seems to be a commonly held belief that isn't true:

cancercouncil.com.au/17958/...

Mayo Clinic have massage listed as an alternative therapy:

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

If your platelet levels were too low, then bruising might be an issue and you may have some enlarged nodes that might be best avoided to avoid discomfort

Your biggest problem might be finding a massage therapist that would be comfortable massaging you, due to their liability concerns without a covering letter from your specialist stating that you are able to have massages.

Personally, I'd be more worried about the risk of infection transmission from lying face down on the massage table, etc, but if your immunity is still fairly good, that may not be a significant concern for you.

I'd be interested to hear of other's experiences.

Neil

[Clsmith]

Thanks for your quick replies and humour. Will make an appointment today.

[alexmcg48]

Hi, Not to pry too much, but are you on any other medication like Statins?

The reason I ask is that I'm on statins, long before I knew I had CLL, & the first type they put me on caused me to ache all over & it wasn't until I spoke to my brother-in-law I found out this is a side affect of some types.

I spoke to my GP & he changed the type I was on (about 3 or 4 years ago) & I'm no longer aching all over.

[Clsmith]

No I am not on any drugs. But I think it must be swollen glands. Still have no appointment. Wondering if I should call my g.p. to see what the hold up is.

[Soosie16-USA in reply to Clsmith]

I would follow up.  It turned out that the referral from my GP did not make it to the referral desk (in another building) so I had them track it down - things moved smoother and quicker after that!

Best of luck!!!!

[Clsmith in reply to Soosie16-USA]

Thanks. Just called them and they are following up and will get back to me. 

Great support here.

[Elliot43]

I didn't know that massage was something to be cautious about? Here in Perth at the Cancer Centre there is a free therapy unit called Solaris. I have had a few wellness type massages and reflexology post chemo. Brilliant.  No ill effect whatever. I highly recommend massages whether whole body or even smaller areas, perhaps neck and shoulders. Benefits are lowering anxiety, stress and increasing wellbeing.

Sheila in Freo 

[innowra]

I love my fortnightly massages, although I do have to tell new people that the lumps in my neck are not stress related they are lymph nodes and not to try and massage them away😀

[kathypawpaw]

Dear Cllnewbie,

It is my understanding that it will do you a lot of good.

 I am not a doctor but a massage gets a thumbs up from me.  Make sure you go to a good therapist.

Kathy

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero in reply to kathypawpaw]

You need a massage therapist, specifically trained to give massages to people with lymphomas and node involvement...

You should discuss this with your CLL specialist, and they may have recommendations as to a qualified therapist...

~chris

[kathypawpaw]

Thanks Chris,

Perhaps Canada is more forward thinking but I will ask my CLL doc here in the USA what he thinks.  (He may look at me with a "blank stare")  Our doctors really don't get into these kinds of things very much.............but we will see.  My next appointment is in July.  Thanks for the information.

Hope you are doing well,

Kathy