In all the history of massage, hand's touch has been recognized as something wonderful. Sometimes causing a bit of discomfort, depending on the method, but so amazing in all the different techniques of relaxation massages. For many years massages and cancer were not seen to go together: as therapist I learned to avoid giving a massage or a reflexology to someone with cancer, unless the person was living their last days, because it was too "dangerous'.

Now there are more and more therapists who specialized in massages for people living with cancer or long illness (I especially recommend "Service through nurturing touch", workshops given by Peggy Dawson) because medical studies are starting to show the benefits of it.

Why it is a gift to receive a massage when you have cancer?

Because you are connected again to a human touch and not a technical touch that therapists have to do during all their investigations. You will appreciate the relaxation, to feel your muscular tensions released and the wonderful wellbeing state. But the most important aspect for me is the emotional nurturing and touch is one of the fantastic and amazing tools I know.

According to your culture, education and beliefs you are more or less inclined to underestimate emotions and put in a second order for this reason a lot of symptoms and illness appear.

Nurturing the emotion is a vital and fundamental act, which starts when you are in the belly of your mum until your last day. In plus of helping to release physical, nervous and emotional tensions, it acts on all kind of anxiety and fears related to family, illness and death for instance.

I worked for two years in a group of masseurs massaging people with motor disabilities (children and adults). I realized how we were able to change their mood and physical stress just by touching their bodies, because most of the time they weren't touch in a human way but mainly in a medical and technical way.

Despite the fact we were using different types of techniques (shiatsu, traditional massage and reflexology), the benefits were amazing. These fantastic results all had in common all the therapists approach using the nurturing touch. Now I am precisely rediscovering these effects with people who have cancer.

After a session, my clients qualified their feeling of wellness with such words: fantastic, light, amazing, peace, heaven...

To be pampered and feel like in a cocoon is not a shame, it is just a natural thing regardless of your age or condition. It is also a wonderful opportunity to leave this world with a lighter heart.

Since 2008, I have been working at the Wairarapa Cancer Centre in Masterton, giving massages to Kiwis with cancer, following cancer treatments or at the end of life. I am using Swedish massages, feet and face refelexology and a wide range of gentle massages. Sometimes I use essential oils and Bach flower remedies to support the daily stress or to go deeper in the relaxation during the session.

My last words to encourage you to ask for a massage come from a client who recently died from cancer and who repeated many times: "Cedric this massage is Heaven, it is Heaven..." and all the expression of her face was radiating something extraordinary!

Just come, let go and experience for yourself this indescribable feeling of wellness.

Don't hesitate to contact the cancer society of your region to know if the y offer this kind of service. There are also more and more volunteer offering service through nurturing touch (contact Peggy Dawson:mike.peg.dawson@xtra.co.nz)

Cedric A. SUNIER

The Natur-all Path

21 Essex Street

Masterton 5810

thenaturallpath@gmail.com

About the author

I am a qualified Swiss Podiatrist (degree was completed in 1993) with a French university degree in Physiology of Posture and Gait (completed in 2001). It was through the Grinberg Method (level 1 completed in 1996) that I first discovered Foot Reflexology and started understanding holistic health. It inspired me to take my well-being knowledge and practice further.