The origin of oncology massage

In the United States massage for cancer has been used for over 30 years and is a standard part of the complementary care offered in many hospitals and cancer centers, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. This form of massage has also been available in Australia for over 15 years.

In the Netherlands oncology massage is playing an increasingly important role in our complex healthcare system, with collaborations established with leading institutions such as Haaglanden Medical Center, Maasstad Hospital Rotterdam and Alexander Monro Hospital.

To guarantee the quality and safety of massage for people with cancer an international quality register for oncology massage therapists was established in 2007: the Society for Oncology Massage. The 'Instituut Massage bij Kanker' in Bilthoven is the only training institute in the Netherlands that meets the requirements of this quality register. It is internationally recognised as a Recognized Education Provider and has now been in existence for 15 years.

Oncology massage therapists who graduate from the institute are intrinsically motivated and work from the heart as well as with the head. They combine their knowledge and understanding of cancer with their experience in adapting massage techniques. The aim is not to provide therapeutic treatment, but to offer a massage with loving attention that supports recovery and helps people reconnect with their own bodies.

If you would like to find an oncology masseur in your area, please visit www.verwijsgidskanker.nl. I currently work in the Zoetermeer region and from late summer 2027 also in Schouwen-Duiveland in Zierikzee.

Author: Paula Beekhuizen Certified oncology masseur, member of the 'Network Massage bij Kanker' Quality Register | Certified NGS relaxation masseur | Qualified social worker